Macbeth Notes

Macbeth: Act 1 Macbeth proves himself a hero at Scot's battle. The king then decides to give Macbeth a promotion. The prophecy: The witches come across Macbeth and tell him that the king has given him a promotion (thane) and that he will later become king. They tell his friend Banquo that he will not amount to much but that his children will. Banquo seems doubtful of the witches. Macbeth ponders about it.  King Duncan=father of Malcom Duncan shares with everyone that his son Malcom will be the heir to the throne. Macbeth wonders about this because the witches said he would be king.  Ominous weather = tragedy or disaster ahead.  Since he heard of the prophecy he yearns to become king....it may be a self-fulfilling prophecy Lady Macbeth is ambitious and wants to have Macbeth seize the thrown my any means necessary.  The king will join Macbeth and his wife for dinner. Lady Macbeth says they should kill the king then.  Macbeth: thinks things over and "chickens out" and decides not to kill Duncan. His wife is angered and disappointed. She convinces Macbeth to kill the king She is somewhat Macbeth's driving force....makes him appear somewhat weak. She is kind of like his "back bone"

 Macbeth: Act 2 Macbeth is feeling paranoid and guilty over killing Duncan....this is unusual. One of the only Shakespeare characters to feel this way. Macbeth finally kills the king but does not fully carry out their plan. He was frightened as he killed the king.  Lady Macbeth is again frustrated with Macbeths' cowardice and finishes off the plan herself (puts the daggers in chamberlains room so it seems like they killed the king). Macduff and Lennox come to visit the king and discover him dead. Macbeth claims he killed the chamberlains because they killed the king.  Malcom feels he is not safe since his father was murdered.  Foreshadowing: weather, animals behaving strangely. Macbeth is now to be crowned king. Malcom is suspect because he has fled. 

 Macbeth: Act 3 Macbeth still feels extremely guilty. His wife as well Macbeth fears Banquo because he knows of the prophecy....he has hired some men to kill him.  The murderers kill Banquo but fail to kill his son Fleance. Fleance is now another threat to Macbeth...he is a potential heir to the throne. The prophecy said that Banquo's children would be king or something of that extent. During a dinner with their court, Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth and Macbeth  talks to him and makes himself look crazy. Hecta the goddess of mischief and witchcraft tells the witches to keep Macbeth in confusion. Malcom has now sought help from King Edward.

 Macbeth: Act 4 Macbeth goes to see the witches and they tell him that Macduff is a threat. Macbeth sends murderers to kill him and his family. Macduff and Malcom become allies and together want to overthrow Macbeth. Macduff now swears to take revenge on Macbeth since he has murdered his family. 

Macbeth: Act 5 The English and Scottish army will now fight against each other. The English army is led by Malcom. Lady Macbeth kills herself from guilt.  Malcom's army are carrying pieces of tree to disguise the size of the army. Malcom sees this and remembers that this type of wood will mean his death. Macduff shows up with Macbeths head. Malcom is crowned king.