Macbeth by William Shakespeare LIVING Teacher’S Guide LITERATURE Written by Mary Ellen Snodgrass SERIES a Perma-Bound Production
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Macbeth by William Shakespeare LIVING Teacher’s Guide LITERATURE Written By Mary Ellen Snodgrass SERIES A Perma-Bound Production This guide was prepared using the Washington Square Press New Folger Library Edition, hostess to plans for murder. Macbeth, who shies ©1992.Other editions may differ. from so bold a move, leaves the plot to his wife. Synopsis Act I, Scene 6 When the royal entourage reaches her home, Lady Act I, Scene 1 Macbeth acts the part of gracious lady and worthy As a storm and battle rage simultaneously on the subject. heath, three witches converge to discuss a future meeting with Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman. Act 2, Scene 7 In private, she and her husband debate the out- Act I, Scene 2 come of regicide. Lady Macbeth On the field, King Duncan’s captain assures him that she supports him. reports that brave men have Thus encouraged, Macbeth decides quelled a revolt led by the Thane of to carry out the plot. Cawdor.The king condemns Cawdor at the same time that he Act 2, Scene 1 exalts Macbeth with a soon-to-be- Banquo and Macbeth display dif- announced battlefield promotion. fering reactions to the witches’ prophecy. Alone, Macbeth visualiz- Act I, Scene 3 es a floating weapon dripping Unaware of this impending honor, blood. Macbeth crosses the heath with Banquo, a stalwart friend and warrior, Act 2, Scene 2 and encounters the witches, who indi- After his wife slips a sedative into cate that Macbeth is now Thane of the king’s bodyguards’ cups, Cawdor and will rule Scotland.To Macbeth stabs the king, then Banquo they report that he will never overhears prayers from Duncan’s rule, but that his line will produce kings sons.Their piety reminds him for Scotland. Macbeth then learns from that his ambition has cost him Ross and Angus that the prophecy is God’s grace.Tremulous, true and ponders how miraculously his Macbeth returns to his chamber, ambitions have borne fruit. where his sharp-tongued wife chastises him for forgetting to implicate the drugged guards by Act I, Scene 4 leaving the weapons at their sides. She quickly After rejoining Duncan, Macbeth invites him to his completes the errand, then directs Macbeth to home at Inverness and hurries ahead of the royal retire to his bed. train to prepare a fitting welcome. All the while, Macbeth muses on Malcolm, the heir apparent to Act 2, Scene 3 Duncan’s crown. The doorkeeper, whose drunken stupor is inter- rupted by knocking, opens the portal for Lenox Act I, Scene 5 and Macduff. Macbeth joins them. Macduff goes to Macbeth’s message to his wife reveals the implica- the king’s chamber and returns in an uproar as the tions of this eventful day.With letter in hand, she news spreads that Duncan has been murdered. analyzes her husband’s character and deduces that Macbeth takes charge, summons his wife and the he lacks the drive to fulfill the prophecy. As the princes, Malcolm and Donalbain, and slays the royal guest approaches, she leaps from her role as guards. Lady Macbeth fakes a swoon. Left alone, ©2007 Perma-Bound www.perma-bound.com 1 Macbeth William Shakespeare the princes analyze their position and decide that Act 4, Scene 1 they must flee lest they be accused of their father’s Hecate and the witches continue mixing ingredi- death or die by the same hand that killed Duncan. ents.When Macbeth appears to learn more about his future, the trio call forth a parade of fearsome Act 2, Scene 4 visions. In the lead is an armed head warning Ross and an old man discuss the turmoil. Macduff Macbeth to beware Macduff. A second vision dis- reports that the king’s sons are accused of killing plays a bloody babe, who promises that no man their father and announces that Macbeth has been born of woman can harm Macbeth. A final appari- named king. Ross departs to prepare for the tion, a crowned child, guarantees that Macbeth crowning at Scone; Macduff stays at his home at shall never be defeated until Birnam Wood comes Fife. to Dunsinane.The effect of these messages is ela- tion: Macbeth concludes that the signs bode well Act 3, Scene 1 for an unchallenged reign. Banquo immediately suspects Macbeth of regicide. He tells Macbeth that he and his son Fleance are In a final check on the future, Macbeth questions venturing out on horseback, but will return for din- the witches about Fleance. A fourth vision parades ner. Macbeth, fearful that Banquo’s family will eight monarchs behind the spirit of Banquo. At the achieve what the witches foretold, dispatches a conclusion of this display, the witches vanish. pair of assassins to kill the two men. Macbeth learns that Macduff has departed. In response to the first apparition, Macbeth plots to Act 3, Scene 2 murder Macduff’s family. Macbeth and his wife reassess their political posi- tion. Act 4, Scene 2 Murderers mercilessly slaughter Lady Macduff and Act 3, Scene 3 her children. The killers, joined by a third attacker, succeed in waylaying and killing Banquo; Fleance escapes. Act 4, Scene 3 Meanwhile in England, Malcolm sounds out Act 3, Scene 4 Macduff’s political leanings. Macduff’s loyalty to The lead assassin returns during a state dinner to Scotland is obvious. Malcolm discloses that report that Banquo is dead. Macbeth spies Macbeth has slain Macduff’s wife and children.The Banquo’s ghost seated in the host’s chair.To the news elicits an outburst of anger and a call for consternation that arises over Macbeth’s fearful vengeance. Malcolm and Macduff determine to gibbering, Lady Macbeth coolly reports that her end Macbeth’s rule by directing their forces against husband has long suffered hallucinations. A sec- him. ond outburst from Macbeth ends the evening’s festivities; the guests depart. Macbeth expresses a Act 5, Scene 1 need to know more about the future and plans to At Macbeth’s castle, a doctor and female servant confer once more with the witches. remark Lady Macbeth’s mental deterioration, evi- denced by sleepwalking, frenzied speeches, and Act 3, Scene 5 obsession with removing imaginary blood from Hecate directs the other witches in concocting a her hands. From her ravings, the onlookers deduce potion for Macbeth. that she is aware of her husband’s spree of mur- ders. Act 3, Scene 6 Meanwhile, Lenox and another staff member con- Act 5, Scene 2 template the startling turn of events that has sent Outside the castle, Malcolm, Macduff, and Siward, Duncan and Banquo to their graves and Malcolm an aged warrior, direct their forces to Birnam to England. Because Macduff has joined the defec- Wood. tor, Lenox deduces that England may march on Macbeth to restore Scotland to the rightful heirs. Act 5, Scene 3 Macbeth feels no threat from their challenge 2 www.perma-bound.com ©2007 Perma-Bound Macbeth William Shakespeare because he believes that the witches have prophe- Strathclyde and Cumbria. sied an easy road to ambition. Lady Macbeth’s ca.1033 Duncan’s son Malcolm is born. physician reports that he is stumped by her symp- 1034 Malcolm II, grandfather of Duncan and toms. Macbeth, dies, leaving his throne to Duncan I. Act 5, Scene 4 1039 Duncan I leads a disastrous invasion of Malcolm orders soldiers to cuts down branches to England and comes home to face a conceal their nubmers from Macbeth. revolt led by his cousin Macbeth. 1040 Duncan I dies in battle near Burghead. Act 5, Scene 5 Macbeth becomes king. Malcolm is Seyton announces the queen’s death. Macbeth is taken to England. not surprised by her loss. 1042 Edward the Confessor comes to the English throne. Act 5, Scene 6 1050 Macbeth makes a pilgrimage to Rome. Malcolm orders the soldiers to drop their branches 1054 Malcolm and an English army led by and attack. Siward invade Scotland; they defeat the Scots in battle but are forced to return Act 5, Scene 7 to England. Macbeth learns that Birnam Wood is marching 1057 Malcolm returns to Scotland with more against Dunsinane. His bravado wilts at this confir- English troops. After Macbeth dies in mation of the witches’ prophecy. He outfights battle, his stepson Lulach is elected king. young Siward, who dies in the struggle, and moves 1058 Malcolm III becomes king after Lulach is on to a face-off against Macduff. killed. 1066 Normans invade and conquer England; Act 5, Scene 8 William I (the Conquerer) becomes king. Macbeth voices his false hope that no man born of English Princess Margaret flees to woman can harm him. Macduff, supercharged with Scotland, where she marries Macolm III. hate, shatters his confidence by describing how he 1093 Malcolm III is killed during his fifth inva- was delivered surgically and was, therefore, never sion of England. born in the ordinary sense of human birth.Their 1097 Scottish court is moved to Edinburgh. final clash ends Macbeth’s life. Macduff beheads his 1154 Henry II, the great-grandson of Malcolm enemy and exposes the gory trophy on the battle- and Margaret, is crowned king of field, where he proclaims Malcolm the next ruler of England. Scotland. 1249-86 Under Alexander III, Scotland flourishes in trade and internal advancement. Timeline 1272 Edward I becomes king of England. 1296 English invade and annex Scotland. 1297 Scots, led by William Wallace, defeat 43 Romans invade and colonize Britannia. English at Stirling Bridge. 80 Romans invade Caledonia, the Latin 1298 Edward I defeats Wallace at Falkirk. name for the northern part of Britannia.