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Macbeth Summary
Macbeth and Banquo, co-leaders of the Scottish army,
are returning from battle when they meet three witches. The witches prophesy
that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawder and, later, king. They tell Banquo
that he will not be king himself but he will have his descendants as kings.
Messengers arrive with the news that Macbeth has made Thane of Cawder.
Macbeth begins to consider the possibility of becoming king! There is a chance
that King Duncan might choose Macbeth, a cousin, as his successor, but
Macbeth’s hopes are destroyed when Duncan names his son, Malcolm.
Macbeth sees Malcolm as an obstacle to overcome.
 | Lady Macbeth has received a letter from Macbeth, telling her of the prophecies
and his new title. She is determined to help him become king, and when
Macbeth returns, she persuades him to kill the king. When the body is
discovered Duncan’s sons fear for their own lives and flee. Macbeth is made
king. Remembering the witches’ prophecy to Banquo, Macbeth hires murderers to
kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. Fleance escapes, and Banquo’s ghost returns
to haunt Macbeth. He returns to the witches to try to find some satisfaction.
Macbeth is told to be vigilant of Mucduff, Thane of Fife; he is assured that he
cannot be harmed by one ‘born of woman’, and that he will never be defeated
until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane. Finally, Macbeth is shown a line of
kings in the likeness of Banquo. |
| Macduff has not co-operated with Macbeth, and he goes to see Malcolm in
England. Macbeth orders the deaths of Macduff’s wife and family. Malcolm
and Macduff lead an English army, reinforced by Scots sympathizers, against
Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has gone mad and she dies. Approaching Macbeth’s
castle at Dunsinane, Malcolm’s army cuts branches from the trees of Birnam
Wood as camouflage. Macbeth’s forces are easily defeated. Macbeth himself is
killed by Macduff, who was born from his mother prematurely by caesarean
operation. Malcolm is made king of Scotland. |  |
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