This presentation is on the key facts about 'The Tragedy of Macbeth' written by William Shakespeare. It discusses characters, plot and Act-scene wise summary of the play

1. Macbeth(1606/07)
William Shakespeare
(1564-1616)
About the Play

2. Macbeth: Who was he?
Macbeth, King of Scotland
• Macbeth (Medieval Gaelic: Mac Bethad mac Findlaích; Modern Scottish
Gaelic: MacBheatha mac Fhionnlaigh; English: Macbeth son of
Findlay, nicknamed Rí Deircc, "the Red King";[1] c. 1005 – 15 August
1057) was King of Scots from 1040 until his death. He ruled over the
Kingdom of Alba.
• In 1040, Duncan I launched an attack into Moray and was killed in action by
Macbeth's troops. Macbeth succeeded him as King of Alba, apparently with
little opposition. His 17-year reign was mostly peaceful, although in 1054 he
was faced with an English invasion, led by Siward, Earl of Northumbria, on
behalf of Edward the Confessor. Macbeth was killed at the Battle of Lumphanan
in 1057 by forces loyal to the future Malcolm III. He was buried on Iona, the
traditional resting place of Scottish kings.

3. Shakespearean Macbeth!
• Macbeth is today best known as the main character of William
Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth and the many works that it has
inspired.
• However, Shakespeare's Macbeth is based on Raphael Holinshed's
Chronicles (published in 1577) and is not historically accurate.
• Macbeth and Banquo encounter the witches.
• Illustration from Holinshed's Chronicles (1577)

5. A Tour of Macbeth's Scotland in 13
Places
• https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-
kingdom/scotland/articles/a-tour-of-macbeths-scotland-in-13-places/

6. Shakespeare’s ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
• A brave Scottish general named Macbeth receives a prophecy
from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of
Scotland.
• Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth
murders King Duncan and takes the Scottish throne for himself.
• He is then wracked with guilt and paranoia.
• Forced to commit more and more murders to protect himself from
enmity and suspicion, he soon becomes a tyrannical ruler.
• The bloodbath and consequent civil war swiftly take Macbeth
and Lady Macbeth into the realms of madness and death.

7. Key Facts: ‘Macbeth’
•Full Title: The Tragedy of Macbeth | Author: William Shakespeare
•Type Of Work: Play | Genre: Tragedy | Language: English
•Time And Place Written: 1606, England | Date Of First Publication: First Folio
edition, 1623
•Tone: Dark and ominous, suggestive of a world turned topsy-
turvy by foul and unnatural crimes
•Setting (Time): The Middle Ages, specifically the eleventh century
•Setting (Place): Various locations in Scotland; also England, briefly
•Protagonist: Macbeth
•Major Conflicts: The struggle within Macbeth between his ambition and his
sense of right and wrong; the struggle between the murderous evil
represented by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and the best interests of the
nation, represented by Malcolm and Macduff
•Themes: The corrupting nature of unchecked ambition; the relationship
between cruelty and masculinity; the difference between kingship and

8. Characters in ‘Macbeth’
•Macbeth
•Lady Macbeth
•The Three Witches
•Banquo & his son,
Fleance
•King Duncan
•Macduff, Lady Macduff
and their son
•Malcolm & Donalbain
•Porter
•The Murderers
•Ross and Lennox
•Hecate – Goddess of
Witchcraft

9. Plot of the Play – ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
• Is there any difference between plot and story?
• Act I, Sc (i) to (vii)
• Act II, Sc (i) to (iv)
• Act III, Sc (i) to (vi)
• Act IV, Sc (i) to (iii)
• Act V, Sc (i) to (viii)

10. Act I, Sc (i) to (vii)
•Scene i: Thunder and lightning crash above a Scottish moor. Three haggard old women, the
witches, appear out of the storm. ‘When shall we three meet again?’.
•Scene ii: At a military camp near his palace at Forres, King Duncan of Scotland asks a
wounded captain for news about the Scots’ battle with the Irish invaders, - the Scottish generals
Macbeth and Banquo fought with great courage and violence - slew the traitorous Macdonwald.
•Scene iii: Macbeth and his fellow Captain, Banquo, encounter the three witches, who hail
Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, of Cawdor and as ‘King hereafter’. Banquo, they promise,
will father kings but will never be one himself.
•Scene iv: At Duncan’s palace in Forres - Macbeth and Banquo are heartily thanked for
their victories on the battlefield. Duncan’s eldest son, Malcolm, is named the Prince
•Scene v: Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband - Castle
•Scene vi: Duncan and his attendants arrive at the Macbeth’s castle, greeted by a
hospitable Lady Macbeth
•Scene vii: He tells his wife about his change of heart, but she persuades him back into
their murderous plot. - ‘If we should fail?’ ’

11. Act II, Sc (i) to (iv)
• Scene i: ‘Is this a dagger, which I see before me?’ - Later that evening,
Macbeth meets with Banquo and his son, Fleance. Banquo tells of how
he dreamt of the witches, but Macbeth lies that he has not given them
much thought. After his guests exit, Macbeth sees an imaginary dagger
hovering in the air.
• Scene ii: ‘I have done the deed’ - Lady Macbeth and Macbeth meet in
the darkness of the castle. Macbeth, with the daggers in hand,
announces he has murdered Duncan.
• Scene iii: ‘Knock, knock’ - The castle’s drunken porter is awoken by a
knocking at the gate.
• Scene iv: Ross, Macduff, and an Old Man discuss the murder,
considering whether it was committed by the guards or the King’s sons
who have fled. It is announced that the title of King will fall upon
Macbeth.

12. Act III, Sc (i) to (vi)
• Scene i: Macbeth, now King, invites Banquo to a feast
• Scene ii: Macbeth reveals to his wife that he is working on securing their
position by removing all potential risks that stand in the way - ‘Full of
scorpions is my mind’
• Scene iii:The murderers ambush Banquo and Fleance on their way to
the castle. They kill Banquo, but his son manages to run away.
• Scene iv: Banquo’s ghost
• Scene v: Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft
• Scene vi: Lennox talks with another Lord about Banquo’s murder, for
which Fleance is suspected. The Lord notes that Macduff has joined
Malcolm at court in England, and the pair is gathering troops to attack
Macbeth. - ‘Our suffering country’ ’

13. Act IV, Sc (i) to (iii)
• Scene i: ‘Double, double toil and trouble’ - Macbeth visits the
witches and demands they answer his questions. The witches
conjure apparitions to do so. The first, an armed head, tells him to
beware Macduff. The second, a bloody child, tells him no-one born of
a woman can harm him. The third, a crowned child, tells him that he
will never be conquered until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.
Finally, a pageant of eight Kings appears, followed by the spirit of
Banquo.
• Scene ii: Macduff’s family attacked
• Scene iii: In England, Malcolm – Macduff.

14. Act V, Sc (i) to (viii)
• Scene i: Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking
• Scene ii: Four Scottish Lords, including Lennox, discuss the progress of the
English army led by Malcolm, his uncle Siward, and Macduff.
• Scene iii: Macbeth orders his servant, Seyton, to arm him, while the Doctor
gives an unhopeful report of Lady Macbeth’s health.
• Scene iv: The English forces arrive at Birnam wood, and Malcolm instructs the
troops to use its greenery as a disguise to approach the castle.
• Scene v: Queen has died, and a servant tells Macbeth that he has witnessed
Birnam wood moving towards the castle
• Scene vi: Malcolm orders his soldiers to leave their disguises and storm the
castle.
• Scene vii: Macbeth comes across a young member of the English forces,
Young Siward, and kills him instantly. He leaves just as Macduff enters,
searching for the tyrant.
• Scene viii: Macduff succeeds in hunting down Macbeth. The King is initially
unafraid: assured that he cannot be harmed by anyone born by a woman. But
Macduff reveals he was not born naturally, but delivered by caesarean. The pair

15. The End