by William Shakespeare The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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

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

Act II Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have committed the perfect crime it appears. Too perfect, the attendants are slain as well and unable to defend themselves. The kings sons Malcolm and Donalbain flee casting suspicion on themselves.

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

Act III Con’t When his plan to murder Banquo and his son is only partially successful, a series of events is set in motion, leading to Macbeth’s downfall.

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

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

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

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

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

The End