Act 1
- Scene 1 + 2
The play opens up by introducing the witches as a quick method to build up suspense. In eerie chanting tones they make plans to meet upon the heath after the battle to confront Macbeth. We hear about Macbeth before we meet him. It is reported that he kills the traitorous Macdonwald by cutting him open from his belly button to his throat, because he betrayed Scotland. The king hears of Macbeth’s victory and decides to give him the title of thane of Cawdor.
- Scene 3 + 4
The witches meet Macbeth and Banquo on a heath and give them a prediction of the future. They predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Glamis (his current title at the time of meeting with the witches), Thane of Cawdor, and eventually King. For Banquo, the witches say he will be lesser and greater than Macbeth, not as fortunate, but happier, and his sons will be king. Macbeth inquires more, but the witches dismiss him. Macbeth can’t believe that it comes true when he becomes Thane of Cawdor, and wants to become King but Malcolm, the prince of Cumberland, stands in his way.
- Scene 5, 6 + 7
Macbeth sends a letter to his wife, Lady Macbeth, and after she reads it, she fears that his nature “is too full of the milk of human kindness.” She believes that Macbeth will not take the actions necessary to become King without her help. She plans on killing Duncan that very night and tells Macbeth to “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it”. When Macbeth becomes reluctant, Lady Macbeth persuades him by questioning his manhood, saying that she would go to extents such as bashing her own child’s brains out if it meant Macbeth would become king. She tells Macbeth that he needs more courage. The plan that they come to is that they will drug the King’s guards, kill Duncan in his sleep, and then frame the guards.
Act 2
- Scene 1
Banquo enters Macbeth’s castle with his