Macbeth

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Macbeth
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Macbeth Summary

• The play opens with the three witches, who speak
  in riddles, and say they will soon meet Macbeth.
• A wounded soldier on the battlefield tells King
  Duncan of Macbeths bravery and success in
  battle. He also tells him that the Thane of
  Cawdor has betrayed him.
• King Duncan decides to reward Macbeths bravery
  by making him the new Thane of Cawdor.

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Macbeth Summary

• Macbeth and his good friend Banquo meet the
  witches.
• They tell Macbeth he will become Thane of Cawdor
  and king of Scotland.
• They tell Banquo he will be the father of future
  kings of Scotland.
• Banquo doesnt take them seriously but Macbeth is
  desperate to hear more about their prophecy.

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Macbeth Summary

• Macbeth and Banquo discuss what the witches have
  said when a soldier arrives with the news that
  Macbeth had been made the new Thane of Cawdor.
• One of the witches prophecies has come true and
  so Macbeth believes he will also become king of
  Scotland.
• Banquo does not trust the witches so easily and
  warns Macbeth that instruments of darkness
  often try to win people over with something
  small, only to betray them later.

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Macbeth Summary

• In spite of Banquos warning, ambitious Macbeth
  is excited at the idea of becoming king and his
  mind turns to murdering King Duncan.
• At the Kings castle we witness the old Thane of
  Cawdor being executed for his betrayal and King
  Duncan calls Macbeth one of his most trusted
  friends. He does not suspect the plan Macbeth is
  forming to kill him.

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Macbeth Summary

• Macbeth sends his wife Lady Macbeth a letter
  explaining what has happened with the witches and
  asking for her advice on what he should do.
• Lady Macbeth immediately decides that King Duncan
  must die and she will do everything she can to
  help Macbeth become king.
• She knows Macbeth wants to be king but she is
  afraid he is too nice to go through with the plan
  so she aims to convince him.

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Macbeth Summary

• Macbeth cant decide what he should do. He says
  that King Duncan is a good man and a good king,
  he has no reason to kill him other than his own
  ambition.
• He decides to abandon the plan until Lady Macbeth
  calls him a coward and tells him he is not a man
  if he doesnt go through with the murder.
• Macbeth kills Duncan but is so horrified by what
  he has done he flees the scene with the daggers
  he was meant to plant on Duncans guards, framing
  them for the murder.

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Macbeth Summary

• Even though she is disturbed by the thought of
  it, Lady Macbeth realises she will have to go
  back and do it herself.
• When King Duncans body is found, Macbeth kills
  the two guards so they cannot defend themselves
  when blamed with the murder.
• King Duncans two sons both fear for their lives
  and so run away. However, this makes them look as
  if they were behind their fathers death.

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Macbeth Summary

• Macbeth is named the new king and decides to
  blame Duncans death on his two sons who have
  fled Scotland.
• Although he is generally accepted as king, Banquo
  suspects Macbeth may be guilty of murder. Macduff
  also seems slightly suspicious of Macbeth.
• Macbeth is scared of how much Banquo knows about
  the witches and is nervous because the witches
  said Banquos sons would be kings.
• Macbeth decides to kill Banquo and his son
  Fleance.

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Macbeth summary

• Lady Macbeth admits that they have gained nothing
  from killing Duncan because they are both so
  unhappy.
• Macbeth says their plan is not complete because
  they are still in danger.
• He describes how he envies Duncan because he is
  at peace, while Macbeth cannot sleep.

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Macbeth summary

• Macbeth admits he is worried about Banquo but
  does not tell his wife he plans to kill him. He
  has begun excluding her from his plans.
• The murderers Macbeth has hired kill Banquo but
  Fleance escapes.
• Macbeth is disturbed to realise Fleance is still
  alive but is happy Banquo has been taken care of.

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Macbeth summary

• Macbeth returns to the feast in his castle but
  imagines he can see the ghost of Banquo.
• Lady Macbeth makes excuses for Macbeth and
  accuses him of being a coward until he recovers
  himself.
• However, Macbeth again sees the ghost of Banquo
  and cannot get a grip on himself. Lady Macbeth
  has to tell all of the guests to leave.

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Macbeth summary

• Macbeth decides he is going to visit the witches
  to find out more information.
• The witches tell Macbeth to beware Macduff, that
  none of woman born can harm him and that he will
  be King until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane.
• The witches prophecies give Macbeth huge
  confidence because he trusts them unthinkingly.

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Macbeth summary

• Macbeth discovers that Macduff has fled Scotland.
  
• Macbeth is furious that he has not already killed
  Macduff and in his rage decides to kill Macduffs
  family.
• Macduffs innocent wife and children are brutally
  slaughtered by Macbeths men.
• Macbeth has become a cruel tyrant.

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Macbeth summary

• Malcolm (Duncans son) and Macduff meet in
  England to discuss the terrible state Scotland is
  in and to plan an attack.
• A soldier arrives and tells Macduff that Macbeth
  has killed his entire family.
• Macduff is heartbroken, he asks over and over
  again if it is true. His determination to kill
  Macbeth is now personal, as well as political.

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Macbeth summary

• Lady Macbeth has finally given into the horror
  and guilt of her crime and she loses her mind
  from the strain of it.
• She sleep walks, re-enacting the horror of the
  murder and of trying to cover up for Macbeth.
• Her strong will power early in the play is now
  gone and she is helpless and scared.

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Macbeth summary

• Macbeth is shaken when he discovers the English
  army is coming for him.
• He thinks of what is missing from his life
  love, friendship and honour.
• Lady Macbeth dies and Macbeths cold reaction is
  a huge contrast to Macduffs devastation at his
  familys deaths.

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Macbeth Summary

• The English soldiers each take a branch from
  Birnam Wood to disguise their approach and so one
  of the witches prophecies has come true.
• Macbeths people desert him and he is left alone
  to fight.
• He is confident because he cannot be killed by
  someone of woman born until Macduff reveals he
  was prematurely taken from his mothers body so
  didnt have a natural birth.

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Macbeth summary

• Macbeth finally realises the evil power of the
  witches and although he has no hope he faces
  Macduff with courage and determination.
• Macduff kills Macbeth and presents his head to
  Malcolm.
• Malcolm is announced King and order is returned
  to Scotland.

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MACBETH SUMMARY

• Key Characters
• Macbeth
• Lady Macbeth
• Banquo
• Duncan
• Malcolm
• Macduff