Macbeth Plot Summary

Scene i: Play opens on eerie, macabre note in "an open place," where we see the three witches, the "weird sisters." In a dozen lines, they announce their evil nature by saying "Fair is foul,and foul is fair/Hover through the fog and the filthy air," and their intention to meet with Macbeth once the "hurly-burly" of a battle between the forces loyal to the King Duncan (led by Macbeth) and a rebels army (led by the current Thane of Cawdor) comes to an end. (Jump to the text of Act I, Scene i)
Scene ii: At the camp of the Scottish King Duncan, a wounded officer tells the king and his son, Malcolm, about the heroism of Macbeth and his friend Banquo in the fight against the rebels. News shortly arrives that the battle has now been won. Duncan orders the execution of the captured Thane of Cawdor and then transfers this title and estate to Macbeth, the new Thane of Cawdor.(Jump to the text of Act I, Scene ii)
Scene iii: Set on a heath, the three witches coven together again. They brag about their unnatural deeds and their powers over the supernatural world. Macbeth and Banquo appear on what Macbeth describes as an unusually, "foul and fair" day. The three witches predict that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and ultimat

Scene v: In an "open place," the demon goddess Hecate scolds the three witches for not including her in their plans for Macbeth. She advises them to make-up potent spells to cast on Macbeth when they meet him again. (Jump to the text of Act III, Scene v)

Scene i On stage alone, Banquo puts it altogether, realizing that Macbeth has had a murderous hand in fulfilling the prophecy of the witches. He recalls that the weird sisters also foretold that Banquo's descendants (but not he himself) would one day rule in Scotland. Macbeth enters in regal attire. He has learned that Banquo and his heir, Fleance, plan to go horseback riding. All save Macbeth and his servants exit, and Macbeth begins to scheme on killing Banquo and Fleance to prevent this part of the witches' prophecy from coming true. He arranges for two murderers to kill them when they return from their ride. (Jump to the text of Act III, Scene i)