Macbeth Plot Summary

Background/Context: A very powerful and persuasive writer is who wrote Macbeth and his name is William Shakespeare. In 1564 was when William was born. He was a glove-maker who had great success in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Growing up, shakespeare went to grammar school, but after that William’s road of schooling ended. William married Anne Hathaway in 1582, and they later had three children together. William left for London in 1590 to focus on acting and playwright, leaving his wife and children behind. Shakespeare is well known for his shortest story he wrote, which is called Macbeth. In this tale is a bloody story line, including the main protagonist named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from three witches about someday becoming

It also sets the dark mood the play carries throughout the unfolding events. Act one starts with a battlefield scene, three witches becoming introduced, and Macbeth becoming the middle of importance right away. Macbeth is made thane of Cawdor which leads to a power hungry taste in Macbeth’s wife mind. She craves the idea of her husband going farther to be more powerful, and more controlling. Which thus leads to a devilish plan assassinating their King Duncan so her dear husband Macbeth can take the crown and throne. Making a short road turn into a long, winding, and troublesome one. This foreshadows many problems to come for the fact of the three witches making prophecies for Macbeth, which is the reason Lady Macbeth furthered her power hungry thoughts into reality.

Commentary: Witches “When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain?” “When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won.” “That will be ere the set of sun” “Where the place?” “Upon the heath” “There to meet Macbeth”

Not only is this conversation between the three witches important, it is what opens the play itself. Thus resulting in an opening of immediate importance and foreshadowing. When the third witch states “There to meet Macbeth” it unearths the future importance of Macbeth and how he will be the center of the upcoming dramatic events. Also, it states “...when

When he finally arrives to them, he demands to know more future prophecies from them. He thirst to know more of his fate and future. The first prophecy is the disembodied head of a warrior who seems to warn Macbeth of a bloody revenge from Macduff. The second is a blood-covered child who comforts Macbeth with the news that he cannot be killed by any man "of woman born." The third is a child wearing a crown, who promises that Macbeth cannot lose in battle until Birnam wood physically moves toward his stronghold at Dunsinane. Hearing these prophecies Macbeth now has something to drive off of. Something that will push him further into his ruthless and cold hearted reign. Driving Macbeth to further want the vanquishing of the family of Macduff.

Commentary: 2nd Apparition / Macbeth “Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to scorn the pow’r of man; for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” “Then live Macduff; what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, and take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live, that I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, and sleep in spite of thunder.”

These few spoken lies specifically for the part where Macbeth states “..what need I fear of thee?” Reading that brings up thoughts of how there could be an even more ruthless reign to be expected from Macbeth. When you have no one to fear then why worry about being in moral code or good ethnics?