Macbeth

Introduction: Macbeth begins with the appearance of three witches who plan to meet Macbeth. At a
military camp, King Duncan of Scotland receives news, that one of his Thane's, Macbeth has defeated
leaders of a rebellion against the king MacDonald and the Thane of Cawdor. The King decides he will
name Macbeth the new Thane of Cawdor. On their way back from battle Macbeth and his friend Banquo
encounter the witches. The witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor and predict that he will become
king, they also tell Banquo that his descendants will someday be Kings. After the king executes the old
Thane of Cawdor he grants Macbeth the title. Macbeth starts to believe that witch's predictions and
relates the events to his wife.

Rising Action: Lady Macbeth begins to plot the murder of King Duncan so that Macbeth can take the
throne. When King Duncan visits the castle Macbeth initially hesitant goes through with the plan. Lady
Macbeth gets Duncan's guards drunk and Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep. Macbeth returns with the
daggers in his blood-stained hands. Lady Macbeth goes back to plant the weapons and frame the
guards. The next morning Duncan's body is discovered and blood and the daggers are found on the
guards. Macbeth pretending to be enraged kills them.

Fearing for their own safety Duncan's sons Malcolm and Donalbain flee the country. Macbeth is crowned
King of Scotland and the feigns speculative of the strange events. Meanwhile remembering the witch's
predictions Banquo grows suspicious of Macbeth singing Banquo is a threat Macbeth hires murderers
to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo is killed but Fleance escapes.

At a banquet the same night Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost and appears insane to the court. Macbeth
meets again with the witches and they make three new predictions about his future. They tell him to
beware of Macduff, that no man born of woman can harm him and that he will be secure until great
Birnam wood a forest comes to. Macbeth's castle at Dunsinane Hill Macbeth believing the last two
predictions are impossible assumes he is safe.

In the meantime Macduff travels to England to find Malcolm Duncan's eldest son and convince him to
head back to Scotland to fight for his rightful throne. Macbeth takes this opportunity to send murderers
to Fife to kill Macduff's wife and son. Macduff convinces Malcolm to return to Scotland with an army. As
Macbeth's rule is waning, Lady Macbeth goes mad. She is under a doctor's care because of
hallucinations caused by her repressed guilt.

Climax: The Scottish Lords and Thane's have united against Macbeth and joined Malcolm's army. The
Scottish and English armies meet at great Birnam wood and use tree branches as camouflage to
approach Dunsinane Hill. While Macbeth prepares for the onslaught at Dunsinane he learns his wife has
died. One of his servants then tells him, birnamwood appears to be moving toward them.This rattles
Macbeth because it fulfills one of the witch's prophecies. Still he relies on the witch's assurance that no
man born of woman will cause him harm.

Falling Action: When he meets Macduff on the field however he learns Macduff was delivered by
caesarean section. Macduff kills Macbeth and in the resolution malcolm takes his place as the rightful
king of scotland.