Initial Situation
Macbeth has been mostly responsible for the crown's victory over the rebel Scots and Irish invaders. Before we even meet him, his own King and the men that fight under him have prepared us to encounter a noble, courageous, and loyal man.
In the beginning, we know where everyone stands; King Duncan is a nice old man who was going to be taken advantage of by traitors, and Macbeth, because he seems to lack mortal fear, went blazing into a losing battle and knifed a man from his navel to his neck. Heroic behavior, if ever there was any. To drive home how brave Macbeth is, there's even a second wave of rebel fighters after the whole disemboweling incident. Macbeth has no chance of winning, but wins anyway. He defeats the leader of Norway's troops by meeting him in hand-to-hand battle, "confronting him with self-comparisons." (Subtle image alert: The men are mirror images of each other in more ways than one.) Macbeth was
so good that the Norwegian king can't even bury the dead until money is paid to Scotland. There's no moral but victory in war.
Conflict
The weird sisters prophesize that Macbeth is fated to become King of Scotland. Macbeth seems content to let it happen in due time. But then King Duncan names Malcolm as the heir to the throne and Macbeth believes he must murder the King in order to become king.
Macbeth would go home a hero, be reunited with his wife, and get back to being Thane of Glamis, except he meets some ladies on a hill who have beards and promises. Looks aside, they know just what to say to Macbeth and his traveling companion, Banquo, to stir the boys up. Macbeth is promised to be Thane of Cawdor and eventually King, and Banquo will sire heirs to the throne. Macbeth is enraptured by the power the women offer him and he reveals he has thoughts about "murder." He quickly sweeps these thoughts aside but when King Duncan says Malcolm's going to be the next king, Macbeth decides he must take action. Herein lies the conflict – no kingship unless he murders first. It also becomes clear that "fate" may not be determining Macbeth's future because Shakespeare goes out of his way to show Macbeth deliberating about what to do next. (You can read "Fate and Free Will" for more on this.) Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth about the prophecy, and resolves that Macbeth must murder Duncan, with the help of her encouragement. Macbeth takes a good look at himself, and his "if it were done when 'tis done" soliloquy reveals to him and us that nothing but blatant ambition is at the core of this act of treachery, and pure evil. What's a guy to do? Apparently it depends on what his girl says.
Complication
Macbeth kills the king to secure the kingship, but immediately it becomes clear that the only way to hide the murder is to keep murdering. Eventually murder and tyranny are the only way Macbeth can keep his power.
Thanks to Lady Macbeth's urging, Macbeth has gone ahead with the murder, and Lady Macbeth has framed the guards, but as soon as he walks out of Duncan's bedchamber with bloody hands, we meet the thoughts that are to plague him. Voices cry out of the night, promising he will sleep no more since he has murdered sleep's peace. Macbeth hasn't even settled in the new palace before Macbeth has already found some local thugs to murder Banquo and his son. (Remember, the weird sisters have also prophesized that Banquo's heirs will rule the kingdom some day.) Macbeth realizes that, if Banquo's part of the prophecy comes true, he will have murdered Duncan to hand Banquo's children the crown. That's no good. Rather than rethink his whole murdering the King thing, it seems easiest to take out Banquo's son and obviously, Banquo himself. Even Lady Macbeth thinks this is a naughty idea, but Macbeth has already convinced himself it is the best course, and tells her not to think on it. In managing the affair himself, it seems he is in control, but we've already had inklings that his emotions and the conscience he represses have other ways of lashing out at him. Other
complicated ways, that is.
Climax
The very night Macbeth is meant to celebrate his new crown, the ghost of Banquo visits him and ruins the party. Macbeth has a fit in front of all of his new subjects. It seems he isn't of sound mind to run himself, never mind the kingdom. He begins to unravel, and suspicions arise.
Macbeth is brazen, and at his dinner party, calls special attention to Banquo's absence, making it seem as though Banquo is insensitive. In fact, Banquo couldn't show up because he was dead, thanks to Macbeth. Banquo's ghost, however, shows up fashionably and climactically late – but is only seen by Macbeth. Macbeth goes into public fits of fear and anger. He complains that there was a time when the dead stayed dead – it seems he did not think his act would come back to haunt him. (Very punny.) His hysterical episode has ruined the party, and after Lady Macbeth sends everyone home, the King rants quietly to himself the prophetic fact that bloodshed only ever leads to more bloodshed.
Suspense
Macbeth visits the weird sisters to hear more of his complex fate. Where his silent conscience seemed like it was going to be his undoing, new intelligence from the sisters convinces him that he can stay King. He is drunk with power and now immune to sense. It seems good might not prevail. At the same time, forces are gathering in England to fight his tyranny.
Haunted by daggers, ghosts and nights of sleeplessness, Macbeth consults the ladies that helped him into this mess in the first place. Even his fits of madness don't deter him from pursuing his course of action. He relies on the words of the three witches like a fix, even if they seem contrary to good sense. The witches have their own evil intention of confusing the situation further. They distract Macbeth with more twisted prophecy – he walks away thinking he is invincible, ignoring the part of the prophecy that promises Banquo's sons will still be kings. In his arrogance, he has Macduff's family murdered. So Macbeth thinks he can't be killed, but we know that he must be killed if Banquo's children are to rule. In England, we find that Macduff, fiercely competent, has pledged to murder Macbeth – as soon as he can get his hands on him. Macduff's not the type to get his kilt in a knot over nothing, so we know he means business. He will bring ten thousand men and his own rage to face Macbeth. Will twisted prophecy or righteous rage win the day? Onward – to the denouement!
Denouement
The noblemen of Scotland have joined forces with the English army, and all stand together in Scotland to fight Macbeth. Lady Macbeth kills herself, and as Birnam Wood marches on Dunsinane, part of the prophecy is fulfilled. Macbeth resigns himself to fate, but he's going to fight it, even though he knows it's futile. There's not much else he can do.
To the surprise of… no one, it turns out you can't trust bearded ladies' tales to help you out in any way. Macbeth hears that an army of 10,000 marches his way, but feels protected because forests don't march. This sense of security lasts right up until said forests do, in fact, start marching. In the meantime, Lady Macbeth is announced dead by her own hand, and when Macbeth hears that the woods is on its way, he resigns himself, saying he wearies of the sun. He goes out committed to dying a death full of his former soldierly violence, but perhaps not his soldierly honor.
Conclusion
The last part of the prophecy fulfilled, Macbeth stands against a man not-of-woman-born. Still he fights, but good prevails over tyranny and madness. He is slain, and Malcolm is named the rightful king.
When Macbeth comes to face Macduff, he bids him turn back. Though he killed indiscriminately before, he feels the blood of Macduff's family most heavily. Macduff also feels pretty seriously about his entire family being dead, but the time for action is upon them. Macbeth, unrepentant and clawing 'til the end, dies a bloody death befitting his bloody life. If you think you have heard these words before, in fact, yes you have, in the beginning of this full-circle play.
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