Macbeth

Set in medieval Scotland, Macbeth’s story begins as it ends: with Scotland at war and foul play in the air. Opening in the midst of a storm, three mysterious witches meet and plot their dark plan involving a man known as
Macbeth, who is kin to the king of Scotland, Duncan. Macbeth’s title is Thane of Glamis, and he is a highly capable warrior, as seen when it is revealed Macbeth has succeeded in ending the rebellion against Duncan’s rule.

After the battle, Macbeth and his fellow thane Banquo encounter the three mysterious witches who begin to tell prophecies of great fortune to both men. To Macbeth they tell of a great rise to power, promising him that he will first become Thane of Cawdor and then eventually king of Scotland. They also tell Banquo that although he will not be king, his line will beget kings. The witches vanish into thin air, and Macbeth and Banquo doubt what they have been told until a messenger from King Duncan confirms Macbeth as the new Thane of Cawdor after the previous thane died in the rebellion. Now believing wholeheartedly in the prophecy, Macbeth he agrees to Duncan’s request to host a feast at Macbeth’s castle at Inverness where Lady Macbeth receives the news and begins to plot her and her husband’s ambitious ascent.

Once the royal party arrives, Lady Macbeth conspires with her husband to murder Duncan and take his place as king, at first admonishing Macbeth for his reluctance to fulfil his ambition. During the night while the King is sleeping, Macbeth sneaks into his chamber and murders him.

The next morning, in the presence of lords, Macbeth blames the King’s death on two drunk servants who Macbeth kills to hide his guilt. Noting the absence of the King’s sons Malcolm and Donalbain, Macbeth shifts blame upon them and declares himself as the rightful king of Scotland, thus fulfilling the prophecy.

Yet as swift as Macbeth’s rise to power is, his downfall is equally abrupt. To secure his power, and with the death of King Duncan still being seen as suspicious, Macbeth begins to fear Banquo’s side of the prophecy, since he assumes Banquo’s sons will one day kill him to take the throne. After Banquo and his son leave Macbeth’s castle one night, the new king hires murderers to slay Banquo and his son Fleance. Only succeeding in killing Banquo, Macbeth briefly feels at peace until the ghost of Banquo appears at a feast sitting in Macbeth’s chair, only seen by Macbeth himself. Madly raving at thin air, more suspicion grows as Macbeth begins to descend deeper into paranoia. Once again he consults the witches, who tell him to beware of the thane Macduff. However, they seemingly allay his worries, promising that no mortal man born from a woman can kill Macbeth, and that he will not be defeated until the forest of Birnam Wood moves upon his castle. Satisfied, Macbeth sends more murderers to kill Macduff’s wife and children. Meanwhile, Macduff meets with Prince Malcolm who leads an English army to defeat Macbeth and claim his rightful throne. Using branches from Birnam Wood to disguise themselves, the army sneaks upon Macbeth’s castle, as more and more men abandon him.

Lady Macbeth, delusional from guilt, mysteriously dies (though it is heavily implied that she commits suicide), and Macbeth laments the folly of his ambition. Meeting Macduff in battle, Macbeth brags he is invincible as no man is not born from a woman can kill him... until Macduff reveals he was taken from his mother’s womb (i.e. a cesarean birth), and Macduff subsequently beheads Macbeth. Presenting the head to Malcolm, the young prince is then decreed as the new king of Scotland.