on this cheat sheet
Everything on the GCSE English Literature Macbeth: Plot Summary Act by Act poster is written out below, section by section. Use it to search the sheet, copy parts into your own notes, or check a fact quickly.
Act 1: The prophecy
- Returning from battle, Macbeth and Banquo meet three witches on a heath.
- The witches greet Macbeth as "Thane of Cawdor" and "king hereafter".
- They tell Banquo his sons will be kings.
- King Duncan names Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, so the Cawdor prophecy comes true.
- Lady Macbeth reads her husband's letter and resolves to push him to murder Duncan.
- Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle as a guest.
The witches hail him with two greetings:
"Thane of Cawdor"
"That shalt be king hereafter!"
Act 2: The murder
- Macbeth sees a vision of a floating dagger leading him to Duncan's chamber.
- He kills Duncan in his sleep and returns shaken.
- Lady Macbeth smears the sleeping guards with blood to frame them.
- Macduff discovers Duncan's body. Macbeth admits he has already killed the guards in his "fury".
- Duncan's sons Malcolm and Donalbain flee.
- Macbeth is crowned king at Scone.
Act 3: The banquet
- Fearing the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants will be kings, Macbeth hires murderers.
- Banquo is killed; his son Fleance escapes.
- At the royal banquet, Banquo's ghost appears in Macbeth's seat. Macbeth's public outburst alarms the guests.
- Lady Macbeth covers for him. Macbeth resolves to consult the witches again.
Act 4: The apparitions
- The witches conjure three apparitions for Macbeth: beware Macduff; "none of woman born" shall harm Macbeth; and he is safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.
- A vision shows Banquo's descendants as future kings.
- Hearing Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth has Macduff's wife and children murdered.
- Macduff joins Malcolm in England, and they raise an army.
The three apparitions are labelled:
"Beware Macduff"
"None of woman born"
"Until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill"
Act 5: The fall
- Lady Macbeth, sleepwalking, relives her crimes and tries to wash imaginary blood from her hands, crying "Out, damned spot!".
- She dies offstage; her suicide is implied.
- Malcolm's army hides behind branches from Birnam Wood, so Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane.
- Macduff reveals to Macbeth that he was "untimely ripp'd" from his mother's womb, or born by caesarean section.
- They fight, and Macduff returns with Macbeth's head.
- Malcolm is hailed King of Scotland.