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Macbeth Summary | Play by William Shakespeare | Neb English Support Class 12
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
SHORT STORYLINE
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Macbeth hears that he is going to be the King. He and Lady Macbeth both kill people so that he can be the King; both of them die at last.
SHORT SUMMARY
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
The three witches tell Macbeth, the Scottish general, that he will be the king of Scotland. Encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth kills the King, becomes the new King of Scotland, and kills more people out of paranoia. A civil war breaks out in Scotland to overthrow Macbeth, resulting in more deaths.
DETAILED SUMMARY
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Act I
On a bleak Scottish moorland, Macbeth and Banquo, two of King Duncan's generals, discover three strange-looking women (witches). The witches make predictions that Macbeth will be promoted twice: Thane of Cawdor (a position of aristocracy bestowed by grateful kings) and the King of Scotland. Banquo's descendants will be kings, but Banquo himself has not been promised any kingdom. The general wants to hear more from them, but the "Strange sisters" disappear.
Soon afterwards, King Duncan rewards Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor for his success in the recent battles. The promotion seems to back up the prediction. Later, the King proposes to make a brief visit that night to Macbeth's castle in Inverness. Lady Macbeth gets news from her husband about the prophecy and even his new title. She vows to help him become king by any means necessary.
Act II
Macbeth comes back to his castle, followed almost immediately by King Duncan. Both Macbeths conspire to kill King Duncan and wait until everyone is asleep. At the appointed time, Lady Macbeth provides all the guards with drugs so that Macbeth can enter and kill the king. He repents almost immediately, but his wife reassures him. She drops the bloody dagger left by the dead king just before Macduff, a nobleman, arrives there. When Macduff learns of the murder, Macbeth kills the drunken guards in a show of rage and vengeance. Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee in fear for their lives, but they are nevertheless blamed for the murder.
Act III
Macbeth becomes King of Scotland but is plagued by the thoughts of all his insecurities. He recounts the prophecy that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne and arranges for both Banquo and his son Fleans to be killed. In the dark, Banquo is murdered, but his son escapes from the assassins. That night at his state banquet, Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo and worries the courtiers with his paranoid (mad) reaction. Lady Macbeth immediately dismisses the court and tries unsuccessfully to calm her husband.
Act IV
Macbeth seeks out the three witches, who say he will be safe as long as a local wood, Birnam Wood, does not fight against him. He need not fear anyone born of a woman (which seems safe; no loophole here). They also make predictions that the Scottish succession will still come from Banquo's son. Macbeth begins a reign of terror, slaughtering many people, including Macduff's family. Macduff went to the English King's court in search of Malcolm (one of Duncan's runaway sons). Malcolm is young and unsure of himself, but Macduff, wracked with grief, persuades him a lot to lead an army just against Macbeth.
Act V
Macbeth feels secure in his remote castle at Dunsinane until he is told that Birnam Wood is moving towards him. Malcolm's force is carrying branches from the woods as camouflage for their assault on Macbeth's stronghold. Meanwhile, an overworked and conscience-stricken Lady Macbeth walks in her sleep and confides her secrets to her doctor. She commits suicide. As the final battle begins, Macbeth hears of Lady Macbeth's suicide and mourns greatly.
In the middle of a losing fight, Macduff challenges Macbeth. Macbeth learns that Macduff is a caesarean birth (loophole!) child, realises that he is cursed, and submits to his enemy. Macduff wins and brings the traitor's head to Malcolm. Malcolm declares peace and moves to Scone to be crowned king.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
1. Are the Witches in Macbeth real?
Answer:
The text doesn't confirm if the witches in Macbeth are real or just supernatural manifestations.
2. Did Macbeth always want to be king?
Answer:
Initially, Macbeth doesn't express a strong desire to be king. The idea is introduced by the witches' prophecy.
3. Why does Macbeth think the Witches want to help him?
Answer:
Macbeth believes the witches want to help him because their predictions about his rise to power start coming true.
4. Does Lady Macbeth commit suicide?
Answer:
Yes, Lady Macbeth commits suicide as revealed in Act V.
5. How did Birnam Wood move and why was Macduff able to kill Macbeth?
Answer:
Birnam Wood appears to move when Malcolm's army uses branches as camouflage, fulfilling the witches' prophecy.
6. What convinces Macbeth that the Witches' prophecy is true?
Answer:
Macbeth becomes convinced of the witches' prophecy when he is made Thane of Cawdor, as foretold.
7. Why does Banquo not trust the Witches?
Answer:
Banquo doesn't fully trust the witches because their predictions for him are less explicit and unclear.
8. Why does Macbeth believe he needs to kill King Duncan?
Answer:
Macbeth believes he needs to kill King Duncan to fulfill the witches' prophecy and become king himself.
9. How does Lady Macbeth persuade Macbeth to kill King Duncan?
Answer:
Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan by questioning his masculinity and appealing to his ambition.
10. How does Lady Macbeth persuade Macbeth to kill King Duncan?
Answer:
Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan by questioning his masculinity and appealing to his ambition.
11. Why does Macbeth kill King Duncan's two chamberlains?
Answer:
Macbeth kills King Duncan's two chamberlains to divert suspicion and frame them for the murder.
12. Why do King Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee to England after their father is murdered?
Answer:
Malcolm and Donalbain flee to England to avoid being suspected and killed as conspirators in their father's murder.
13. Why does Macbeth kill Banquo?
Answer:
Macbeth kills Banquo to eliminate a threat to his throne, as the witches predicted Banquo's descendants would be kings.
14. How does Lady Macbeth's death affect Macbeth?
Answer:
Lady Macbeth's death greatly affects Macbeth, leading to his emotional breakdown and a sense of isolation.
15. What convinces Macbeth that he is invincible over Macduff's army?
Answer:
Macbeth mistakenly believes he is invincible over Macduff's army because he interprets the witches' prophecies too literally.
16. How does the Witches' prophecy about Banquo come true?
Answer:
The Witches' prophecy about Banquo comes true when his descendants eventually become kings, fulfilling their prediction.
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