Video SparkNotes: Shakespeare's Macbeth summary

Summary

Macbeth is a tragedy about ambition and moral downfall. Macbeth, a Scottish Thane, meets three witches who predict he will become king. Fueled by ambition and spurred on by Lady Macbeth, he murders King Duncan to take the throne. However, Macbeth's guilt and paranoia lead to further killings, including Banquo, whose descendants were prophesied to be kings. As Macbeth's tyranny grows, his enemies gather. In the end, Macduff kills Macbeth, fulfilling another prophecy, and Malcolm becomes king. The play explores themes of fate, free will, and the destructive nature of unchecked ambition.

Takeaways

• 🧙 Macbeth gets the idea of becoming king after meeting witches who predict his future.
• 🗡️ His ambition drives him to murder King Duncan to take the throne of Scotland.
• 😨 Macbeth becomes paranoid after gaining power, fearing betrayal and losing control.
• 🔪 He arranges the murder of his friend Banquo, fearing the witches' prophecy about Banquo's descendants.
• 👻 Macbeth hallucinates and sees Banquo's ghost at a feast, causing a public breakdown.
• 🧩 Lady Macbeth manipulates and pushes Macbeth to commit the murder, but later she feels guilt and begins to unravel mentally.
• 🧹 The witches manipulate Macbeth with prophecies, making him believe he's invincible, but their predictions are misleading.
• ⚔️ Macbeth kills Macduff's family, prompting Macduff to seek revenge and lead an army against him.
• 🌲 In the final battle, Malcolm's army uses branches from Birnam Wood, fulfilling one of the witches' prophecies.
• 👑 Macduff, born by caesarean section, kills Macbeth, ending his tyrannical rule, and Malcolm becomes the new king.

Q & A

What is Macbeth’s initial title in the play?

Macbeth's initial title is Thane of Glamis, which is a Scottish Lord.

How does Macbeth get the idea of becoming King of Scotland?

Macbeth gets the idea of becoming King of Scotland after encountering three witches who prophesy that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and the future king.

What role does Lady Macbeth play in Duncan's murder?

Lady Macbeth plays a crucial role in Duncan's murder by convincing Macbeth to go through with the killing and by planning how to frame Duncan's servants for the crime.

How does Macbeth feel after killing King Duncan?

After killing Duncan, Macbeth feels guilt-ridden and paranoid. He believes he will never sleep again and becomes obsessed with his bloody hands.

Why does Macbeth decide to have Banquo killed?

Macbeth decides to have Banquo killed because the witches' prophecy says Banquo’s descendants will become kings, which threatens Macbeth’s reign.

What does Macbeth see during the feast that unnerves him?

During the feast, Macbeth sees the bloody ghost of Banquo sitting in his chair, which terrifies him and makes him act irrationally in front of his guests.

How do the witches’ second prophecies mislead Macbeth?

The witches’ second prophecies mislead Macbeth by telling him that no one born of a woman can harm him and that he will not be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane, giving him a false sense of invincibility.

What does Macduff reveal during his fight with Macbeth that changes the outcome?

During their fight, Macduff reveals that he was born via caesarean section, meaning he was not technically 'born of a woman,' which allows him to defeat and kill Macbeth.

What happens to Lady Macbeth near the end of the play?

Near the end of the play, Lady Macbeth suffers from guilt and madness, sleepwalking and attempting to wash imaginary blood off her hands. She eventually dies by suicide.

How does the play end and who becomes king?

The play ends with Macduff killing Macbeth and presenting his severed head to Malcolm. Malcolm, Duncan’s son, is declared the new King of Scotland.