The story, the lies, the blood.
ACT I
The play opens with three witches who set the scene and atmosphere for the play. They cast prophecies on both Banquo and Macbeth saying that they will become King. Macbeth and Banquo have just returned from war between Scotland and England. Macbeth was successful in War, so King Duncan decides to stay at their castle when Macbeth returns. Macbeth wrote a letter to his wife about the prophecies and being King. Lady Macbeth creates a plan to murder the King so they will become King and Queen. Macbeth does not want to kill Duncan to begin with, but lady Macbeth manipulates him into doing so. ACT II Macbeth begins to second guess himself about murdering Duncan but finally he goes through with the plan but freaks out after killing Duncan, so Lady Macbeth finishes the plan by wiping blood on the guards. The plan was to blame the murder on the guards so that Macbeth would not be a suspect in the murder. The next morning Malcolm and Donalbain, the kings sons, flee Scotland in order to stay alive. They believe they could be prime suspect in the investigation or someone could be targeting them next as they are heirs to the throne. ACT III After Duncan’s death, Banquo begins to think that Macbeth was the true murderer. In order to keep this a secret, Macbeth sends thugs out to murder Banquo and his son, Fleance but Fleance escapes. Macbeth holds a banquet for all the other lords at his castle. At this banquet, Macbeth sees the ghost Banquo. Macbeth begins to rant and rave, making the guest uneasy. Macbeth begins to signs of mental illness, as if he was becoming insane. ACT IV Macbeth becomes obsessed with power and begins to ask the witches for more prophecies. The witches tell Macbeth that he should be fearful of Macduff, that he cannot be killed by man, and that he should only fear when the Dunsinane wood begin to move. Macduff begs Malcolm to defeat Macbeth. Soon after, Malcolm hatches a plan to kill Macbeth and become the rightful King of Scotland. ACT V Lady Macbeth begins to go mad over her murders. Soon after her panic attack, she dies. Scottish lords begin to think that Macbeth is not rightful King, so they begin to help Malcolm in his attempt to kill Macbeth. Macbeth is not overly worried as he believes the prophesy that no man can kill him, will protect him. The battle begins and Macbeth confronts Macduff and learns that Macbeth was ripped from his mother’s side and not naturally born. Macduff then kills Macbeth in a final battle where he beheads him. Malcom now becomes the rightful king of Scotland. |