The Tragedy of The Tragedy of

MacbethMacbethbyby

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Act IAct I

The war hero Macbeth returns home The war hero Macbeth returns home and, on the way encounters three and, on the way encounters three witches who prophesy that he will witches who prophesy that he will one day become king of Scotland.one day become king of Scotland.

Seized by ruthless ambition Seized by ruthless ambition and spurred on by his wife, and spurred on by his wife, Macbeth plans to murder Macbeth plans to murder

King Duncan. King Duncan.

Act IIAct II

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have Macbeth have committed the perfect committed the perfect crime it appears. crime it appears.

Too perfect, the Too perfect, the attendants are slain as attendants are slain as well and unable to well and unable to defend themselves.defend themselves.

The kings sons The kings sons Malcolm and Donalbain Malcolm and Donalbain flee casting suspicion flee casting suspicion on themselves. on themselves.

Act IIIAct III

This act Marks the This act Marks the turning point in the turning point in the action. Up until action. Up until now , things have now , things have gone very much the gone very much the way Macbeth had way Macbeth had planned. However, planned. However, his sense of his sense of insecurity leads him insecurity leads him to fear Banquo and to fear Banquo and his offspring. his offspring.

Act III Con’tAct III Con’t

When his plan to When his plan to murder Banquo murder Banquo and his son is only and his son is only partially partially successful, a series successful, a series of events is set in of events is set in motion, leading to motion, leading to Macbeth’s Macbeth’s downfall.downfall.

Act IVAct IV

Macbeth’s decline is in full swing. He Macbeth’s decline is in full swing. He sees apparitions, who make sees apparitions, who make seemingly contradictory predictions, seemingly contradictory predictions, and Macbeth, grown desperate to and Macbeth, grown desperate to secure his throne, interprets the secure his throne, interprets the apparitions’ words in the most apparitions’ words in the most favorable way. favorable way.

Forces begin to gather against Forces begin to gather against Macbeth, and his situation Macbeth, and his situation becomes more desperate.becomes more desperate.

Act VAct V

Macbeth has Macbeth has fortified himself fortified himself behind the stone behind the stone walls of Dunsinane, walls of Dunsinane, armed with the armed with the prophecy of the prophecy of the apparations. Lady apparations. Lady Macbeth has Macbeth has suffered a mental suffered a mental and emotional and emotional brekdown. brekdown.

The army of angry The army of angry Scots who are Scots who are determined to determined to overthrow Macbeth overthrow Macbeth approaches, Lady approaches, Lady Macbeth kills Macbeth kills herself. Macbeth’s herself. Macbeth’s former glory will former glory will not allow him to not allow him to die without a fight.die without a fight.

The final speech by The final speech by Macbeth is meant Macbeth is meant to lift the mood of to lift the mood of the audience. the audience. However, this play’s However, this play’s main message is a main message is a dark one: dark one: Even Even the noblest and the noblest and most heroic most heroic humans can fall humans can fall into the depths into the depths of depravity of depravity and ruin.and ruin.

TheThe

EndEnd