extensive macbeth study guide

Scenes in Macbeth 1.1: Three chanting witches appear out of a storm and plan to meet again in bad conditions to confront Macbeth. “When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?” 1.2: Duncan speaks to a captain about the news of Scotland’s battle with the Irish, led by the rebel Macdonwald. “2 spent swimmers” He tells Duncan that the Scottish generals, Macbeth and Banquo, fought very well and killed Macdonwald. Then they defeated the king of Norway’s army. “As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion” Ross enters and tells the king that the thane of Cawdor has been defeated. Duncan says that Macbeth should replace Cawdor, and Ross goes to tell him. 1.3: The Witches enter after “killing swine” and the chestnut story. Macbeth, “so foul and fair a day I have not seen” Macbeth questions their mortality and the witches declare Macbeth: Thane of Cawdor and Thane of Cawdor. They tell Banquo that he nor his family will ever be king. Ross enters and tells Macbeth he will be king. Macbeth wonders: should I do anything to become king? Ross tells Macbeth he is thane of Cawdor. Borrowed robes. 1.4: Duncan praises Macbeth and Banquo for their performance in the battle, and they profess their loyalty to Duncan. Banquo is skeptical, but Macbeth is thinking hard about it even though he lies to Banquo. Duncan says that he wants Malcolm to have his crown, and that he will join Macbeth for dinner tonight. Macbeth tells his wife everything, and thinks about murder. “either I step around, or I leap” Everyone leaves to go to Macbeth’s palace (Dunsinane) 1.5: Lady Macbeth reads the letter from her husband and says that he will not be risky enough to fight for his throne. She displays her lack of femininity and her craving for power. “unsex me” “change my milk into gaul” Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth she will plan the murder of Duncan. 1.6: Duncan enters Macbeth’s castle, praising the castle and Lady Macbeth. She says no problem, we owe you and is very kind to him. 1.7: During the dinner, Macbeth ponders murder. He is scared of the consequences and admits how great Duncan is. Macbeth doesn’t want to kill him, but lady Macbeth insists. The plan: while Duncan is sleeping, kill him and get his servants drunk.

2.1: Banquo and fleance walk into Macbeth’s castle and they chat about the witches and not being able to sleep because of bad dreams. Macbeth hallucinates about Duncan and a dagger. 2.2: Lady Macbeth fascinates about the murder, and wonder if Macbeth has failed. Macbeth, in blood, kills Duncan and claims people were awake and spoke. Lady Macbeth tries to calm her husband, returns the daggers to the servants and tells Macbeth to wash his hands.

2.3: Porter is drunk and grumbling comically about the person knocking and about alcohol. Macduff and Lenox enter and ask to see Duncan, who Macbeth says was sleeping. Macduff finds Duncan dead and is suspicious of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth faints because Macbeth admits to killing guards for killing Duncan. Malcolm and Donalbain are told their father has been killed and they escape to England and Ireland. Macbeth says he killed the servants. 2.4: Ross and an old man discuss the murder. Macduff tells Ross that Macbeth will be king. It is suspected that the servants or the sons killed Duncan.

3.1: Banquo thinks about what the witches said: maybe he will become king? Macbeth invites Banquo to dinner. Macbeth later thinks about Banquo- his old friend whom he fears. Since he killed Duncan, maybe Banquo’s sons will become kings. Macbeth’s murderers arrive and he tells them to kill Banquo and Fleance because they are the reasons the murderers are so poor. 3.2: Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth his mind is full of scorpions. He tells her he is planning another deed to seal the deal on becoming king, to kill Banquo and Fleance. He wants her to be kind to them to lure them into a false sense of security. 3.3: At dusk, the two murders joined by a third attack Banquo and Fleance as they dismount from their horses. They kill Banquo, who makes sure Fleance gets away. They leave Banquo’s body. 3.4: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth enter a feast as King and Queen, followed by everyone. Macbeth is angered by the murder’s news that Fleance is still alive. He thinks Fleance is just a worm now but will grow up into a venom breeding. He returns to the feast finding a ghost of Banquo. Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband saying he often sees things. Then, when Macbeth toasts, he sees Banquo’s septor and Lady Macbeth makes more excuses. He tells Lady Macbeth that Macduff is sensing something about treason. Macbeth says he must do something to secure the throne. 3.5: Witches meet with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft. She takes over as superior of the mischief. 3.6: Lennox is with anther lord discussing sarcastically all the mischief going on. Banquo’s murder has been officially blamed on fleance and they think Macbeth killed both him and Duncan. Macduff has gone to England to join Malcolm in pleading to King Edward for help. Macbeth wants war.

4.1: The witches chant spells. Macbeth enters and the witches summon apparitions each offering a prediction to Macbeth’s fears. They say to fear Macduff, that nobody born of woman could hurt Macbeth, and that he is safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. After Macbeth sees one final vision of 8 kings holding a mirror followed by Banquo’s ghost, Lennox tells Macbeth that Macduff has gone to England and Macbeth decides to kill all of Macduff’s family.

4.2: At Macduff’s castle, Lady Macduff asks Ross why Macduff has betrayed her, but Ross tells her to trust her husband. Lady Macduff tells her son that he is dead, and the son argues not. A messenger tells Lady Macduff she is in danger, but she argues she has done no wrong. The murderers stab the son and then Lady Macduff. 4.3: Outside King Edward’s palace, Malcolm and Macduff talk about distrust and Macduff passes Malcolm’s test of loyalty to him rather than Macbeth. There is a doctor that says wretched souls are waiting to be cured by King Edward. Ross enters and tells Macduff that his wife and children are well. Malcolm says he will return to Scotland with ten thousand soldiers. Ross confesses to Macduff that his family is dead and Macduff plans to kill him.

5.1: Lady Macbeth is sleeping walking and admits to killing Banquo, Duncan, and Macduff’s full family. Doctor doesn’t know how to help her. No perfume can wash away the sent of blood from her (similar to when Macbeth said Neptune’s ocean couldn’t wash the blood from his hands) 5.2: English army with Malcolm approach at Birnam Woods. Macbeth is a dwarfish theif (stealing Kingship). 5.3: Macbeth is in hall of Dunsinane with doctor and attendants thinking nobody could harm him. Macbeth orders the doctor to cure Lady Macbeth of her unableness to sleep. His assistant “seyton” tells Macbeth an army of 10000 men is approaching his castle. 5.4: Near Birnam Wood Malcolm talks with Siward (lord) about tactics to beat Macbeth. 5.5: Macbeth tries to prepare the castle for victory but hears a woman cry. Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth gets news that the trees of Birnam Wood are advancing to Dunsinane. Macbeth says at least he will die while fighting. 5.6: War begins and Malcolm arrives with soldiers at Dunsinane Castle. 5.7: Macbeth fights relentlessly and kills Siward’s son. Macduff searches for Macbeth. Malcolm has taken over the castle and is stronger than Macbeth’s army now. 5.8: Malcolm and Siward enter the castle. Macbeth incounters Macduff and they fight (Macduff is reluctant at first, but then goes for it) and Macduff kills Macbeth because he was born of cea- section NOT WOMAN. Macduff enters castle holding Macbeth’s head and proclaims Malcolm king. Malcolm declares that thanes become earls and they switch governing system (tannistry-premogenitude). Then they are all invited to see him crowned at Scone.