Act by Act

Characters: Three witches Setting: Stormy night, a battle, on a heath in Scotland They create an ominous, supernatural mood to start the play

Characters: King Duncan, Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, Bleeding sergeant fresh from the battle

Setting: A camp near the battle

The sergeant brings news of Macbeth’s bravery and victory. He also brings news of treachery and betrayal by the Thane of Cawdor.

King Duncan decides to reward Macbeth by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor.

Characters: The three witches, Macbeth and Banquo

Later Angus and Ross enter

Setting: A heath near the battle

The witches tell Macbeth and Banquo of their prophesies. Macbeth is immediately intrigued about the prophesies coming true.

King Duncan, his sons (Malcolm and Donalbain), Lenox Later Macbeth, Banquo, Ross and Angus enter King Duncan greets Macbeth as a hero, but names his

son, Malcolm, as his heir. King Duncan announces that he will stay with Macbeth

for the night.

Characters: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, a messenger

Setting: Inverness (Macbeth’s castle) Lady Macbeth learns of the prophesies and reveals her ambition.“Come, you spirits thattend on mortal thoughts,unsex me here…”

Characters: Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth

Setting: Arriving at Inverness Lady Macbeth welcomes her guests to the

castle.

Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth Setting: Inside Macbeth’s castle Macbeth struggles with whether or not he should kill

Duncan. Lady Macbeth basically bullies and insults

Macbeth until he is on board with her plan to kill Duncan.

Characters: Macbeth, Banquo, and Fleance (Banquo’s son)

Setting: Inverness, after midnight

Macbeth and Banquo have their first private conversation since hearing the prophesy.

Macbeth hints that he might take action. Banquo says he will not act on the prophesy and wishes to keep a clear conscience.

Macbeth hallucinates that he sees a bloody dagger leading to Duncan’s chamber.

Characters: Macbeth and Lady MacbethSetting: Same

Macbeth kills DuncanMacbeth kills Duncan

and is distraught.and is distraught.

Lady Macbeth has noLady Macbeth has no

patience for his agony.patience for his agony.

Both of them areBoth of them are

nervous. He hears voices; she hears owls nervous. He hears voices; she hears owls screeching. She places the daggers back in screeching. She places the daggers back in Duncan’s chamber and wipes his blood on Duncan’s chamber and wipes his blood on the passed out servantsthe passed out servants

Characters: The Porter, Macduff, Macbeth, Lennox, Lady Macbeth, Malcolm, Donalbain

Setting: Inverness, early morning The Porter Scene

provides comic relief Duncan’s murder is

discovered. Macbeth kills the drunk servants in his “grief.”

Malcolm and Donalbain, feeling vulnerable, flee Scotland for England and Ireland.

Characters: Old man, Ross, Macduff

Setting: Outside the castle at Inverness

A conversation between Ross and an old man tell of strange and awful events (unnatural disturbances) that have followed the king’s murder.

Macduff informs them that Macbeth has been named King of Scotland.