The Summary of the Plot
The story begings with three witches casting spells and making a potion while talking about their future meeting with Macbeth. It then goes to King Duncan, with a soldier reporting to him that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo, have defeated the enemy. The soldier explains about the two leader's bravery and strength on the field.
The story then shows the three witches waiting for Macbeth and Banquo. The witches tell Macbeth of his royal, rich future. They tell Macbeth that he will be the Thane of Glamis, the Thane of Cawdor, and finally the King of Scotland. Macbeth is struck silent by these prophocies. The witches then tell Banquo that his descendents will be the King of Scotland, but that he will never be the King. The witches then vanish, and a messenger from King Ducan tells Macbeth that he has been made Thane of Cawdor.
Macbeth then writes to his wife, Lady Macbeth, about the witches' foretelling of the future and that King Duncan plans to spend the night at their castle. Lady Macbeth thinks of a plan that will make her husband become king. Her plan includes killing the King will he is sleeping, then blaming the murder on his guards. When Macbeth arrives at his castle, Lady Macbeth tells him of her idea, but he is against it. He argues against it because if he is caught murdering the king, his life would be ruined. Lady Macbeth is able to persuade him to fulfill his destiny.
On the night of Duncan's visit, the Macbeths act as great hosts to their guest, and even offers the king's gaurds drinks. The gaurds eventually pass out, and Macbeth enters the Duncan's chamber and murders him. Macbeth is then disturbed by what he has done and is not able to finnish the plan. This causes Lady Macbeth to have to take the bloody daggers and hide them on the sleeping gaurds.
The next day when Macduff and Lennox arrive, Macbeth shows them the dead king and then in a "fit of rage" murders the gaurds. Macduff is then suspicious about Macbeth, because he thinks he knows why Macbeth really killed the gaurds. Duncan's sons then flee the country, thinking that Macbeth will kill them next.
Macbeth is then made King, but is uneasy about the predictions about Banquo's children. Macbeth then has a great party, but before he does, he sends three assassins to kill Banquo, his best friend, and Fleance, Banquo's son. The three men are able to kill Banquo, but his son manages to run away. While at the party, the ghost of Banquo walks in and sits in Macbeth's seat. Strangely, Macbeth is the only one able to see the ghost. The party guests then become worried when Macbeth begins shouting at a ghost. Lady Macbeth again has to take charge and tell the crowd that Macbeth is just joking, but then tells the guests they have to leave. When the guests are gone, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth how angry she is for embarassing her and himself at his first royal party.
Macbeth, who is now very scared and worried, goes to see the witches again. The witches tell him to watch out for Macduff, but they also tell him that no man born of a woman will kill Macbeth and that he will never be off the throne until Birnam Wood walks to the gates of his castle. This comforts Macbeth, knowing he will not ever be off his throne. He then sends men to kill every human inside Macduff's castle, including Lady Macduff and Macduff's son. Macduff, himself, is not killed because he had already ran away out of Macbeth's kingdom.
Lady Macbeth now becomes very guilty of the crimes she has committed, and often sleep walks while trying to get the imagenary "blood" off that stains her hands.
Macbeth is now encountering a revolution in his kingdom because he is seen as evil. Macduff and Malcom, one of Duncan's sons, gather together an army to destroy Macbeth and his castle. Macbeth learns of this, and decides to hide in his castle with his own army. Racked with guilt, Lady Macbeth stabs herself in the chest with a dagger. Macbeth then blames her death on Macduff and Malcom.
Malcom's army is camping in Birnam Wood, when Macduff tells the soldiers to cut down the branches of the trees and put them over the army. He does this thinking it will hide the number of soldiers that his army actually has. When Macbeth looks out his window and sees the walking "trees" he is reminded that he will not be kicked off his throne until Birnam Wood walks to his gates.
Macbeth then goes crazy. Many of his own soldiers are sneaking out and joining Malcom's army. Macbeth's army is surrendoring to the other army without a fight. Then Macduff, himself, goes after Macbeth. Macbeth gloats that Macduff is a fool for trying to kill him, because no man born from a woman could kill him. Macduff then tells Macbeth that his mother had a C-section, so he was not acrually born of a woman. Macbeth realizes this, but it is too late.
Macduff then walks down from the castle holding the head of Macbeth. Malcom is made king in replacement of Macbeth.
