Banquo notices that Macbeth reacts to what the witches say with apparent fear. He orders the witches to make some announcement about his future, too; they respond by telling his fortune in riddles. In particular, they say that he is to be the ancestor of kings, though not a king himself. The witches disappear, leaving the two men, bewildered, repeating the prophecies. Ross arrives to announce Macbeth’s new title of Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth’s thoughts turn at once to the possibility of being king, while Banquo shows again that he deeply distrusts the witches. (What, can the devil speak true?) Before the end of the scene Macbeth is already contemplating the murder of Duncan, though hoping that the final prophecy may come true without any action on his part.
In Scene iv, at the royal palace at Forres, King Duncan and Macbeth face each other. The former is warm, friendly, grateful for his general’s services; the latter superficially responsive and dutiful Duncan proclaims his son Malcolm as his heir. This leaves Macbeth almost committed to the murder of Duncan, but well aware of the nature of what he contemplates (he refers to his black and deep desires). In Scene v, Lady Macbeth makes her first appearance. She is reading a letter she has just received from Macbeth in which he tells her about the witches’ prophecies, and the speedy fulfilment of part of them. Lady Macbeth immediately determines that he shall be king, by whatever means may be necessary. She thinks he may be too good-natured to catch the nearest way (that is, to kill Duncan), but she feels confident that she can persuade him to do it. Fate seems to be on her side when a messenger enters to say that Duncan is on his way to honour them with a visit. In a speech in which she reveals much of her character (The raven himself is hoarse…, lines 38–54), she acknowledges her natural womanly feelings but appeals to the powers of darkness to make her cruelly resolute. Macbeth arrives and his wife makes it clear that she expects him to kill Duncan that night. He makes no clear response. Duncan and his court come to Inverness Castle and are greeted effusively by Lady Macbeth but, significantly, not by Macbeth himself.
In the final scene of the first Act, Macbeth struggles with his ambition and his conscience. He has left the banquet hall where the king is dining to try to work things out on his own. He knows that Duncan is a good king, and is clear that nothing but selfish ambition is pressing him towards a terrible crime. He has just concluded that the plan is a wicked one and that he will abandon it, when his wife appears and attacks him viciously and determinedly at his weakest point – his pride in his own courage and manliness. She accuses him of cowardice, and of not loving her. She follows this up with an appalling demonstration that she is willing to go to any lengths herself, declaring that she would dash her own baby to the ground rather than go back on her word. She outlines a plan of action. Macbeth is persuaded, though he is dreadfully aware of the wickedness of what they plan to do.
ACT II
Banquo, as well as Macbeth, seems to be plagued by disturbing thoughts and temptations, but when Macbeth suggests that they should meet to discuss the witches’ prophecies Banquo stresses that he will do nothing dishonourable. Left alone, in another agonized soliloquy (Is this a dagger which I see before me…?) Macbeth shows how deeply disturbed he is by the crime he is now committed to. He hears the bell, struck by Lady Macbeth, which is the signal for him to act; she has done her part by giving Duncan’s servants drink, to make them sleepy. She hears Macbeth shout, and thinks that he has failed to kill the king, but he comes in saying that he has ‘done the deed’.
He seems shattered, and she has to stop him thinking about the crime and his lost honour. As before, she uses the weapon of scorn against him, but this time it does not work. He cannot bring himself to return to the king’s room with the bloody daggers which he should have left there. She goes instead and smears the servants with blood. A thunderous knocking is heard. Macbeth is obsessed with the horror of Duncan’s blood on his hands; Lady Macbeth, on the contrary, whose hands are now also red, dismisses it as unimportant (A little water clears us of this deed).
The porter of the castle is roused at last from his drunken sleep by the knocking. He staggers to the door of the castle to let in Macduff and Lennox, who have come to wake the king. Macbeth comes to see them, pretending that he has only just been awakened himself, and escorts Macduff to the king’s apartment. After Lennox has commented on the wild weather, Macduff re-enters, so appalled that he can hardly say what he has seen. All the thanes and and the two princes, Malcolm and Donalbain, are roused. Lennox, Ross and Macbeth go back to the king’s room, where Macbeth kills the two servants who are covered in blood. Soon afterwards Lennox blames these servants for the murder, but Macduff seems to have some doubts, since he asks Macbeth why he killed them. Macbeth begins to explain in an elaborate, overwrought manner and Lady Macbeth either faints or pretends to do so. Malcolm and Donalbain, who have hardly had time to feel anything except fear, decide to go away. Malcolm’s words suggest that he already suspects Macbeth.
The final scene in the Act presents a picture of total disorder in the natural world, reflecting the chaos in human society. An old man describes bizarre events. Macduff says that Malcolm and Donalbain, because they have fled, are suspected of paying the servants to kill Duncan, their father. He also says that Macbeth has been named as the new king; he is shortly to be crowned at Scone.
ACT III
Banquo clearly suspects that Macbeth has become king by foul means. Macbeth invites Banquo to a feast, and goes on to extract information from him about his planned movements in the afternoon. Because he is deeply concerned about the witches’ prophecy that Banquo is to be the ancestor of kings, Macbeth is plotting to kill his comrade. As soon as he has said farewell to Banquo (God be with you!) he meets two murderers whom, with a strange mixture of lies, temptations, insults and compliments, he persuades to intercept Banquo as he returns towards the castle and kill him. Lady Macbeth tries to comfort her husband, who is full of gloom and fear but is not taking her into his confidence. He hints that he is arranging the removal of Banquo, the most obvious obstacle to his peace of mind. The murderers succeed in killing Banquo but, significantly, Fleance his son escapes.
While the banquet proceeds, the murderers tell Macbeth what has happened; he sinks again into gloom. Banquo’s ghost enters and sits in Macbeth’s seat. Macbeth, shaken with guilt and horror, creates a sensation among the guests and Lady Macbeth has to pretend that he often has such fits, which soon pass. The ghost disappears temporarily and Macbeth seems to recover, but when he proposes a toast to Banquo the ghost returns and Macbeth behaves like a madman. Lady Macbeth, worried that her husband will soon reveal his terrible secrets, ushers out the guests. Macbeth resolves to visit the witches and find out what his future holds. At the same time he contemplates even more frightful crimes (Strange things I have in head that will to hand).
After a brief and not very important scene in which Hecate, the witches’ goddess, appears, two of the Scottish lords make it quite clear to each other that they strongly suspect Macbeth of the two murders. They reveal that Macduff has gone to the court of Edward the Confessor of England (where Malcolm, Duncan’s son, is living) to beg his military assistance in opposing Macbeth.
ACT IV
Macbeth visits the witches who conjure up, first, a helmeted head; next, a bloody child; and then a crowned child with a tree in his hand. The first apparition warns him to beware of Macduff; the second says that no man born of woman can harm him; and the third informs him that he will never be defeated until Birnam Wood moves towards his castle at Dusinane. Macbeth is encouraged by the second and third prophecies but insists on putting a question to the supernatural powers about Banquo’s descendants: will they ever rule Scotland? In answer he is shown a line of eight kings, accom-panied by Banquo, whom they all resemble; the last king holds a mirror in which still more Banquo-like kings are visible. Immediately after this, news comes that Macduff has fled to, England. Macbeth plans to attack his castle and slaughter his wife and entire family. In the next scene Lady Macduff has just been told by Ross that her husband has gone to England. She is angry
