ACT 1: Duncan is the king of Scotland. Macdonald rebelled against him but Macbeth and Banquo, two generals in Duncan's army, defeat him. Macbeth and Banqo are on their way back to Duncan's castle when three witches suddenly appear. They predict that that Macbeth, who is the Thane of Glamis, will also become Thane of Cawdor and then king of Scotland. They also predict that, although Banquo will never rule, his descendants (sons, grandsons, etc.) will one day be kings. Then the witches vanish. Soon after this, Macbeth hears that Duncan has condemned the Thane of Cawdor for treason and will make Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth then thinks about making the restof the witches' prophesy come true by assassinating (killing) the king. Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, gets a letter from her husband telling her all about the witches' predictions. Lady Macbeth also decides to murder Duncan who is planning to stay the night in their castle in Inverness. When Macbeth arrives at the castle, Lady Macbeth laughs at his fear and 'weakness' and finally persuades him to murder the king that night.

ACT 2: Macbeth stabs (knifes) the sleeping king with knives belonging to the king's attendants (servants). He does this to hide the fact that he is the murderer. He is so nervous, however, that that he forgets to leave the daggers (knives) in Duncan's room and Lady Macbeth must finish the 'job' of killing Duncan. She believes that the murder was a success but Macbeth is worried that their treachery will lead to more trouble. When Duncan's dead body is found, his sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, are afraid that they, too, will be killed and leave Scotland. Because of this, they are suspected of killing their father and Macbeth is crowned king of Scotland.

ACT 3: Macbeth now starts to worry about the rest of the witches' predictions - that Banquo's heirs (sons, grandsons etc.) will one day rule Scotland. He therefore invites Banquo and his son, Fleance, to a banquet at his castle and he hires assassins ( killers) to murder them on their way there. At the banquet, Macbeth says how sorry he is that his friend, Banquo, isn't there but as he approaches his seat at the table he sees Banquo's bloody ghost sitting in his chair. Macbeth cries out, startling the other guests who can't see the ghost and Lady Macbeth sends them away. When Macbeth calms down, he decides to find the witches to get them to make him feel more sure and confident about his future as king of Scotland.

ACT 4: The three witches 'magic' up three apparitions (ghost-like figures). They tell Macbeth firstly, to be careful of Macduff - another Scottish nobleman. Secondly, they tell him that 'no man born of woman' can hurt him and thirdly, that he will not be beaten until Birnam Wood (a small forest) comes to his castle at Dunsinane. Macbeth is worried, however, by the next apparition - eight kings followed by Banquo's ghost - a sign that Banquo's heirs will indeed rule Scotland.

Later Macbeth hears that Macduff has run away from Scotland to join Malcolm (Duncan's son) and get an army together to fight him. Macbeth then sends assassins to murder Lady Macduff and her children.

Meanwhile, in England, Malcolm tests Macduff's loyalty to him. He pretends to be an immoral, lascivious, wicked man who would not be able to run Scotland very well. When Macduff says openly that he thinks Malcolm's behaviour is wrong, Malcolm knows that he is honest and not afraid to speak the truth. He asks Macduff to join his army to fight Macbeth. While he is talking, Macduff hears that Macbeth has killed his wife and family and he promises he'll get his revenge.

ACT 5: Lady Macbeth has gone mad because she feels so guilty and frightened about Duncan's murder. She walks in her sleep and imagines she can see blood on her hands. She tries to rub it out. Macbeth is now feeling desperate (hopeless) because Malcolm's army is gathering at Dunsinane castle. He still believes the witches' prophecy and that he is safe and cannot be beaten. He feels more and more afraid and nervous because of his past actions.

However, when he hears his wife has committed suicide (killed herself) he stays quite calm. Macbeth then hears that his enemies are approaching Dunsinane camouflaged as trees from Burnam Wood. He still thinks he's safe, however, as the witches had said that 'no man born of woman' can harm him.

When Macbeth meets Macduff on the battlefield, however, he is told that his enemy was 'untimely ripp'd' from his mother's womb' (he was born by Caesarean section).

Macbeth then realises that his situation is hopeless but fights on until Macduff kills him. Macduff cuts off Macbeth's head and holds it up proudly in the air to Malcolm. Malcolm is then made king of Scotland.

Summary written by Judith Goebel