Shakespeare Macbeth Summary
Overview
Shakespeare Macbeth Summary
Shakespeare Macbeth Summary
Macbeth is a general of King Duncan.He and general Banquo defeats two armies. The king learns that there is a traitor helping the Norwegian army, Thane of Cawdor. Then, he is executed and the King wants Macbeth to become Thane. Macbeth and Banquo come across three witches. The witches prophecy that Macbeth will be Thane then he will become king. They also prophecy that Banquo will never be king but his children will. King Duncan’s men tell Macbeth that he has been named thane of Cawdor. Macbeth remembers the witches’ prophecy. He visits King Duncan, and they decide to have dinner at Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth tells his wife everything. Lady Macbeth desires her husband to be king and she wants him to murder Duncan.
She persuades him to kill the king that night.Lady Macbeth get Duncan’s two servants drunk so they can blame the murder on them. While Duncan is asleep, Macbeth stabs him. When Duncan’s death is discovered, Macbeth kills the servants. Duncan’s sons go to England and Ireland as they fear that whoever killed Duncan will kill them. Everyone thinks that they bribed the servants to kill their father. Macbeth becomes king and he fears that Banquo’s sons will kill him. He hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. They kill Banquo but Fleance escapes. At the feast that night, Banquo’s ghost visits Macbeth.He decides to go to the witches. They show him other prophecies. They tell him to beware of Macduff.When Macduff visits Duncan’s son Malcolm to tell him what has happened, Macbeth murders Lady Macduff and her children.
When Macduff hears everything, he wants to take revenge.Macduff joins the army of Malcolm and they go to Scotland to battle Macbeth’s forces. The Scottish nobles support them as they are frightened by Macbeth.Lady Macbeth, sleepwalks and she believes that she is guilty for the deaths. Macbeth learns that she has killed herself.In the battle, Macbeth fights violently, but the English forces overwhelm his army and castle. On the battlefield, Macbeth encounters the vengeful Macduff. Macbeth continues to fight until Macduff kills him. Malcolm becomes the King of Scotland.