Macbeth summarised with themes and characters who play a major role in the play and a summary of how they change throughout the play from the beginning to the end, all the characters and themes also have analysis with the quotes with a range of potential themes which they could be linked to listed ...
Act 1
The 3 witches gather to meet Macbeth and Banquo
Duncan hears the Thane of Cawdor has betrayed him
Macbeth is seen as a hero
Macbeth and Banquo hear the predictions
Duncan decides that Malcolm will be the heir to the throne
Duncan plans to visit Macbeth
Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter
Act 2
Macbeth had doubts and sees a vision of a floating dagger
He follows through with Duncan’s murder
Lady Macbeth must finish the job by wiping blood on the drunk guards
Macduff discovers Duncan’s body
The guards are the likely suspects
Macbeth kills the guards
Malcolm and Donaldbain flee the castle because they’re afraid they may be in danger
Act 3
Banquo suspects Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan
Macbeth sends murderers to kill Banquo. Banquo is murdered but Fleance escapes
The ghost of Banquo is at the banquet. Macbeth rants and raves. Lady Macbeth tries to cover up
the situation
Macduff doesn’t attend the banquet as he is suspicious of Macbeth
Act 4
Macbeth visits the 3 witches, and they show him more visions. He believes he can’t be killed by
any man following the witches’ prophecies
Macbeth sends murderers to Macduff’s castle to kill his family
In England Macduff begs Malcolm to return to the throne
Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty and then agrees to war against Macbeth
Act 5
Lady Macbeth has gone mad with guilt. She sleepwalks and tries to clean blood from her hands.
She commits suicide
Many of Macbeths supporters decide to help Malcolm. Macbeth isn’t worried as he believes in
the witches’ prophecies
Macduff confronts Macbeth and learns that he was not born naturally but by a caesarean
section
Macbeth and Macduff fight and natural order is restored where Macbeth is killed, and Malcolm
is crowned King of Scotland
Malcolm begins to make changes as he’s crowned king to help to restore natural order
Fair is foul and foul is fair, Hover through…– Witches (1.1) [1/7]
Paradoxical showing theme of a vs r as which good is bad and what’s bad is good which may create
confusion within audience. Use of 7 & 9 syllables which is uneven number may show they’re
unnatural
Why do you dress in borrowed robes – Macbeth (1.3) [2/6]
Extended metaphor used throughout the play of ill-fitting clothing mirroring an ill-fitting title. Link to
Great Chain of Being and contextual ideas of Sumptuary laws: people were legally restricted from
wearing certain forms of clothing – borrowed robes wouldn’t have been allowed.
Often the instruments of darkness tell us truths – Banquo (1.3) [1/7/8]
Banquo is aware of the duplicitous nature of the witches and the ‘darkness’ they serve (the devil).
‘Instruments’ suggests something being manipulated or controlled. Wording taken from
Daemonologie.
O worthiest cousin – Duncan (1.3) [1]
This is ironic as Duncan trust Macbeth however in 2.2 Macbeth will murder Duncan
The swelling act of the imperial theme – Macbeth (1.3) [2/7]
The ‘imperial theme’ relates to the empire and ruling as a king. ‘Swelling’ implies something building
up - him being king however something which swells usually bursts which may show his downfall in
5.9
The supernatural soliciting – Macbeth (1.3) [2/7]
Sibilance warns of a threat of the witches. Macbeth acknowledges the danger of the witches here
but still associates with them (going against what James I says in Demonology). Soliciting in Latin
means to set in motion which may show how the witches have set in motion may actions which
Macbeth carries out such as regicide
New honors come Like strange garments, cleave not mold but with use – Banquo (1.3)
Banquo is suggesting how Macbeths ‘new honours’ such as the Thane of Cawdor don’t fit him. They
are like strange clothes which may link to ‘borrowed robes’. May link to it being again the Great
Chain of Being and how Macbeth titles aren’t meant for him
A step I must fall or else o’er leap – Macbeth (1.4)
The ‘steps’ are referring to the obstacles in his path like Duncan and Malcolm which he thinks he will
kill or forget him ambition of becoming king
Stars hide your fires let not light see my black and deep desires – Macbeth (1.4)
Macbeth doesn’t want the ‘stars’ to shine on him and illuminate his desires to kill king Duncan.
Antithesis between ‘Light’ and ‘Black’ may show the appearance of him outside compared to the
reality of what he’s planning in the background
Our duties are to your throne – Macbeth (1.4)
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller jayvekaria06. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.34. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
