Summary

William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth is set in Scotland in the 11th century and centers on one man’s fatal attempt at power. As we meet Macbeth in the beginning of the play, he is a well-respected nobleman and soldier and favored by King Duncan. He has just won a battle against a rebel army for his king. Macbeth also seems to have a close and loving relationship with his wife, Lady Macbeth.

However, things change when Macbeth and his fellow nobleman Banquo come across three witches who predict that Macbeth will gain two new titles on top of him already being thane of Glamis: He will become thane of Cawdor and then king. Banquo, in turn, will not become king, but he will be the father of many kings. This prophecy kick-starts Macbeth’s ambition, and when he is soon after made thane of Cawdor, he decides to act.

Macbeth informs his wife about the prophecy. Lady Macbeth is worried that her husband is too weak to seize power, so she asks evil spirits to fill her with cruelty so she may help him. When her husband soon after seems to be losing his courage, she asks him to act like a man. Lady Macbeth develops a plan: When King Duncan stays the night at their castle, Macbeth will murder him. Lady Macbeth will get the King’s servants drunk an...