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Macbeth Full Play Summary. The play begins with the brief appearance of a trio of witches and then moves to a military camp, where the Scottish King Duncan hears the news that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated two separate invading armies—one from Ireland, led by the rebel Macdonwald, and one from Norway.
- Plot Analysis
Macbeth is a tragedy that tells the story of a soldier whose...
- Act 5: Scenes 1–8
A summary of Act 5: Scenes 1–8 in William Shakespeare's...
- Character List
A Scottish nobleman hostile to Macbeth’s kingship from the...
- Themes
A summary of Themes in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Search...
- Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth - Macbeth: Full Play Summary | SparkNotes
- Macbeth Characters
We may classify Macbeth as irrevocably evil, but his weak...
- Suggested Essay Topics
SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year...
- Setting
Setting - Macbeth: Full Play Summary | SparkNotes
- Important Quotes Explained
Important Quotes Explained - Macbeth: Full Play Summary |...
- Symbols
A summary of Symbols in William Shakespeare's Macbeth....
- Plot Analysis
Macbeth is a tragedy that tells the story of a soldier whose overriding ambition and thirst for power cause him to abandon his morals and bring about the near destruction of the kingdom he seeks to rule.
Overview. Macbeth by William Shakespeare, which is believed to have been written around 1606, is a timeless tragedy that delves into the corrosive effects of unchecked ambition. Set against the backdrop of medieval Scotland, the play follows the tragic downfall of Macbeth, at first a brave and honorable general.
Macbeth, William Shakespeare, scene summary, scene summaries, chapter summary, chapter summaries, short summary, criticism, literary criticism, review, scene synopsis, interpretation, teaching, lesson plan.
- Summary: Act 1: Scene 1
- Summary: Act 1: Scene 2
- Summary: Act 1: Scene 3
- Summary: Act 1: Scene 4
- Analysis: Act 1, Scenes 1–4
Thunder and lightning crash above a Scottish moor. Three haggard old women, the witches, appear out of the storm. In eerie, chanting tones, they make plans to meet again upon the heath, after the battle, to confront Macbeth. As quickly as they arrive, they disappear. Read a translation of Act 1: Scene 1
At a military camp near his palace at Forres, King Duncan of Scotland asks a wounded captain for news about the Scots’ battle with the Irish invaders, who are led by the rebel Macdonwald. The captain, who was wounded helping Duncan’s son Malcolm escape capture by the Irish, replies that the Scottish generals Macbeth and Banquo fought with great cou...
On the heath near the battlefield, thunder rolls and the three witches appear. One says that she has just come from “[k]illing swine” and another describes the revenge she has planned upon a sailor whose wife refused to share her chestnuts. Suddenly a drum beats, and the third witch cries that Macbeth is coming. Macbeth and Banquo, on their way to ...
At the king’s palace, Duncan hears reports of Cawdor’s execution from his son Malcolm, who says that Cawdor died nobly, confessing freely and repenting of his crimes. Macbeth and Banquo enter with Ross and Angus. Duncan thanks the two generals profusely for their heroism in the battle, and they profess their loyalty and gratitude toward Duncan. Dun...
These scenes establish the play’s dramatic premise—the witches’ awakening of Macbeth’s ambition—and present the main characters and their relationships. At the same time, the first three scenes establish a dark mood that permeates the entire play. The stage directions indicate that the play begins with a storm, and malignant supernatural forces imm...
Scene 1. Banquo and Fleance walk the halls of Macbeth’s castle at night. Macbeth has a vision of a dagger in the air before him. Macbeth heads to Duncan's bedchamber. Scene 2. Macbeth returns to Lady Macbeth after killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth plants the murder weapons in Duncan's bedchamber to frame the chamberlains.
Get all the key plot points of William Shakespeare's Macbeth on one page. From the creators of SparkNotes.
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