The three witches plan to meet Macbeth. The king, Duncan, orders to have the Thane of Cawdor executed. Macbeth is appointed as Thane of Cawdor. The three witches greet Macbeth and tell him he will be king hereafter. The witches also say Banquo's children will be kings. Macbeth thinks about killing Duncan so he could become king hereafter as the witches stated. Duncan announces that Malcolm will succeed him as king. Macbeth is convinced that he can only be king by killing Duncan. Duncan goes to visit Macbeth's home. Lady Macbeth thinks her husband won't be able to kill Duncan when Duncan visits their home. She calls upon the supernatural to fill her with cruelty. When Macbeth arrives before Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth she will prepare Duncan's murder. Duncan arrives at Macbeth's home. Macbeth thinks about why it would be bad to kill the king. Lady Macbeth mocks him and tells of the plan to kill Duncan, which Macbeth accepts. The plan is: First, Lady Macbeth will get Duncan's two chamberlains drunk so they wont remember anything, while they are drunk Macbeth will go in and kill Duncan with the chamberlain's daggers, after the murder Macbeth will place the bloody daggers with the chamberlains so they will be to blame for the king's death.
Act 2
Macbeth imagines seeing a bloody dagger leading him to Duncan's room. Macbeth goes to kill the king. Lady Macbeth waits for Macbeth to come back from killing the king. When Macbeth returns, he is horrified by what he did. He accidentally brings the daggers with him instead of planting them on Duncan's chamberlains. He is so frightened he cannot return them. Lady Macbeth returns them to the chamberlains herself. Lady Macbeth then tells Macbeth to put on his gown and wash his hands of blood. Macduff and Lennox arrive at Macbeth's house to wake the king. Macduff goes to wake the king and finds him dead and tells Macbeth and Lennox. Macbeth and Lennox go look for themselves. Lennox announces that the chamberlains were the murderers. Macbeth tells that he killed the chamberlains and his motives are questioned. Lady Macbeth ends the questioning when she distracts them by asking for help. Duncan's sons fear for their life and flee the country. Malcolm goes to England and Donalbain goes to Ireland. Malcolm and Donalbain are now being accused of bribing the chamberlains who killed the king.
Act 3
Banquo thinks that Macbeth killed Duncan so he could be king. Fearing that the witches predictions would be true, Macbeth decides to have Banquo and his son, Fleance murdered by two men on their way to Macbeth's banquet. Macbeth convinced these two men that Banquo had been the cause of their poverty. Macbeth tells his wife of his fears of Banquo but does not tell her of his plan to kill Banquo. Another man joins the two killers. They kill Banquo but fail to kill Fleance. The killers tell Macbeth of Banquo's murder and Fleance's escape. Macbeth is haunted by images of Banquo's ghost. He starts yelling at the banquet and the people begin staring. Lady Macbeth tells the people to leave. Macbeth decides to go see the witches again. Lennox and an unnamed Lord discuss things in Scotland. The nameless Lord gives news of Macduff's flight to England.
Act 4
Macbeth goes to visit the witches and sees three apparitions that forecast his future. He is told to beware Macduff and that no man born of woman can harm him. He is also told he will not be overthrown until Birnam wood moves to Dunsinane. He is reassured until he sees a line of Banquo's children as kings. Macbeth discovers that Macduff has fled to England and Macbeth decides to have Macduff's family killed. Ross visits Lady Macduff and tries to justify Macduff's flight to England. This leaves her family defenseless. When Ross leaves, a messenger arrives to warn Lady Macduff to leave for her safety. Before she can leave, Macbeth's men arrive and kill her and her son. Macduff finds Malcolm in England and tries to get him to attack Macbeth. The King of England has given Siward, an English commander, 10,000 men to invade Scotland. Ross arrives and tells Macduff of his family's slaughter. Macduff decides to turn his grief into a desire to avenge himself on Macbeth.
Act 5
A doctor and a gentlewoman watch Lady Macbeth walk in her sleep. Lady Macbeth washes her hands in her sleep, trying to get the blood off. There is no blood, her guilt causes her to imagine it. The doctor says she needs spiritual help instead of physical help. A rebelling Scottish force joins the English force at Birnam. Macbeth finds out that English forces are going to attack him, but is reassured by what the apparitions said previously. Macbeth awaits the condition of his wife. Malcolm orders each soldier to carry a bough of wood to conceal their numbers. Macbeth learns that his wife has died and that the woods appear to be moving. He decides to abandon the castle and give the battle to Malcolm. Malcolm arrives with his troops. Macbeth kills Siward's son. Macduff searches for Macbeth, the castle is turned over to Malcolm. Macduff finds Macbeth who doesn't want to fight because he has already killed his family and he reveals that he was not born of woman. Macbeth fights Macduff when Macduff threatens to capture him and display him to the public in a cage. Macduff cuts off Macbeth's head and displays it to Malcolm. Malcolm becomes king and gives new positions to his loyal supporters.
