Act 1
Macbeth and Banquo, returning from battle, encounter three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become king. Encouraged by his ambitious wife, Macbeth is tempted by the possibility of power. When King Duncan names his son Malcolm as heir, Macbeth resolves to take the throne by any means necessary.
Act 2
Macbeth, driven by ambition and spurred on by Lady Macbeth, murders King Duncan in his sleep. To cover their crime, Lady Macbeth plants the bloody daggers on Duncan’s guards. Macbeth, now paranoid, kills the guards to silence them, while Duncan’s sons flee, fearing for their lives.
Act 3
Now king, Macbeth is plagued by insecurity and orders Banquo and his son, Fleance, killed to prevent the witches’ prophecy about Banquo’s heirs from coming true. Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes. At a banquet, Macbeth is haunted by Banquo’s ghost, terrifying his guests and deepening his descent into madness.
Act 4
Macbeth seeks out the witches again and is reassured by cryptic prophecies, including that he will not be harmed by anyone “born of woman” and will remain safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane. Feeling invincible, he orders the slaughter of Macduff’s family. Meanwhile, Macduff and Malcolm prepare to lead an army against Macbeth.
Act 5
Lady Macbeth, consumed by guilt, sleepwalks and ultimately takes her own life. Macbeth, still confident in the witches’ prophecies, dismisses reports of Malcolm’s advancing army—until he realizes they are using branches from Birnam Wood as camouflage. In the final battle, Macduff, revealed to have been born via Caesarean section, kills Macbeth, and Malcolm is crowned the rightful king.
Macbeth: A Scottish general whose unchecked ambition leads him to murder and tyranny, ultimately leading to his demise.
Lady Macbeth: Macbeth’s ambitious and manipulative wife, who pushes him to commit murder and later succumbs to guilt.
King Duncan: The good and trusting king of Scotland, whose murder by Macbeth sets the play’s tragic events into motion.
Banquo: Macbeth’s friend and fellow general, whose descendants the witches predict will inherit the throne. He is murdered by Macbeth.
Macduff: A Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth and ultimately kills him. His family is murdered by Macbeth.
The Three Witches: Mysterious figures who prophesy Macbeth’s rise to power and eventual downfall.
Malcolm: Duncan’s son, who ultimately becomes king and restores peace to Scotland after Macbeth’s death.
Famous Quotes
“Out, out brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage…”
– Macbeth (Act 5,Scene 5)
“Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?”
– Macbeth (Act 2, Scene 1)
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”
– The Witches (Act 1, Scene 1)
"What’s done is done."
– Macbeth (Act 3,Scene 2)
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day…”
– Macbeth (Act 5, Scene 5)