MACBETH: WHAT TAKES PLACE

BY KRISTINA BRIDGEN

The play Macbeth starts out with the three witches saying. “ Fair is foul, and foul is fair Hover through the fog and filthy air” (Act 1, scene 1, line 12) This quote sets the tone and theme for the rest of the play.

Act I

Act I During the same time the Scottish are fighting in a war. The main character Macbeth is ambitious and brave. He fought against the King of Norway who had more soldiers and supplies than they did. Even through Macbeth and his troops had way less the Norwegian King surrendered. King Duncan who runs Scotland decides to make Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor.

http://www.cottiers.com/theatre-programme/macbeth/Image from:

Act I Macbeth and Banquo end up running into the three witches. The three witches tell Macbeth a prophecy. The prophecy is that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and eventually be the King of Scotland. Latter on in the play this will foreshadow what will happen to Macbeth how the rest of the play unfolds.

Image from:http://fineartamerica.com/featured/banquo-lynn-berkeley.html

Act I Macbeth is really surprised about the prediction. Where as Banquo is not so interested, but he is happy for Macbeth’s success. Further in the play Macbeth becomes the Thane of Cawdor and he writes a letter telling his wife Lady Macbeth about the witches prophesy.

http://screenplaystv.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/lady-macbeth-with-letter.jpgImage from:

Act I King Duncan ends up staying with Lady Macbeth, Macbeth in their castle. Lady Macbeth creates a plan to kill King Duncan and convinces and encourages Macbeth to follow this plan.

http://www.insomniactheatre.com/?p=844Image from:

Act II Lady Macbeth had a vision and pushed Macbeth to follow along with it and he eventually works up the courage to kill King Duncan. During this time Macbeth finds himself regretting killing King Duncan because he should be loyal and noble to the King. Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth struggling with the plan and finishes the rest herself so the plan does not become a failure.

http://macbethsmind.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/superstock_1746-2075.jpegImage from:

Act II The following morning, Macduff finds King Duncan dead. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth act shocked about his death so nobody would figure out the truth about the murder. Lady Macbeth got the guards drunk and then she made it look like they were the ones to kill King Duncan. Therefore the guards were the main suspects of his death and Macbeth ends up killing them.

http://hailmacbeth.blogspot.ca/Image from:

Act II Malcolm and Donalbain the sons of Duncan feel that they should flee because their lives also could be in danger. They both flee to another country without saying anything so this results in Macbeth becoming King.

http://theplaystheblog.wordpress.comImage from:

Macbeth believes that Banquo knows that he killed King Duncan. Macbeth hires murders to kill Banquo and his son. This is not completely successful because only Banquo gets killed while Fleance his son escapes.

Image from: http://www.prestonopera.org.uk/macbeth/macbeth.htm

Act III

Act III Macbeth hosts a banquet and he invites many Lords to it. When he is hosting he ends up seeing Banquo’s ghost and he starts acting strange around his guests. Lady Macbeth tries to come up with excuses for Macbeths actions but all of the guests felt uncomfortable and ended up leaving.

Image from: http://blog.drewkennickell.com/?p=28

Act III In the end of this act we realize that Macduff is not at the banquet because he thinks and believes that Macbeth killed King Duncan. Macduff then takes off to England to go and get help from their troops so they can go and defeat Macbeth.

Image taken from: http://www.digitaltheatreplus.com/study-guides/macbeth/characters/macduff