MACBETH
CHARACTERS:
Duncan: King of Scotland.
Malcolm and Donalbain: Duncan’s sons.
Macbeth: A general of the king’s army.
Lady Macbeth: Macbeth’s wife.
Banquo: A general of the king’s army.
Fleance: Banquo’s son.
Ross, Lennox, Angus: Scottish nobles.
Macduff.
Lady Macduff: Macduff’s wife.
Macduff’s son.
Three witches.
Servants, messengers and soldiers.
SUMMARY:
Macbeth and Banquo, the generals of Duncan, the king of Scotland, returning from a fight, met
three witches who prophesied their future. The witches said that Macbeth would become
Thane of Cawdor and then become King of Scotland. Just after this talk with the witches,
Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor because of the battle they had fought earlier.
Macbeth and his wife were so tempted that they killed General Duncan and blamed his guards.
King Duncan's sons left, so Macbeth became king.
But one thing remains, the witches told him that the king's position would go to one of the
Banquo family, so he decides to kill Banquo and his son.
He kills Banquo but his son escapes.
Banquo's soul was chasing him. Macbeth spoke to the witches again, and they told him that he
would be killed when the Birnam wood moved and someone who was not born by a woman
would kill him, for Macbeth this was impossible, so he regained his confidence. MacDuff and
Malcolm's army attacks Macbeth's castle by passing through Birnam Wood and having each of
the soldiers cut branches from the trees. In the final attack, MacDuff kills Macbeth, because
MacDuff had been taken from his dead mother's womb when he was born. And Malcolm
ascends the throne.
QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT:
ACT-1
1) Which two men gave King Duncan news from the battlefield?
The Thane of Ross and a wounded officer.
2) What was this news?
The victory of Macbeth.
3) What were the three witches’ prophecies?
That Macbeth would become Thane of Cawdor and then become King of Scotland.
4) Why was Macbeth named thane of Cawdor?
Because Duncan gifts him with the title, of his victory.
5) What did Macbeth think when Malcolm was named heir to the throne?
That what the witches told him was going to be real.
6) Why did Lady Macbeth think she would have to push her husband to try to get the throne?
Fears her husband is too kind to murder the king, so she manipulates him.
ACT-2
1) Lady Macbeth told her husband that they should wash Duncan’s blood off their hands and
get into bed. Why? To be able to hide that they killed Duncan and to be able to continue with
their plan.
2) Why was Macduff surprised that the king hadn’t yet woken up when he arrived?
Because they had met and he was never late.
3) Why did Macduff think the guards has assassinated the king?
Because they were covered in blood.
4) How did Macbeth justify murdering Duncan’s guards?
Because he filled them with blood.
ACT-3
1) Why did Macbeth tell the three men to kill Banquo and his son?
Because the witches told him that someone from the Banquo family could take the throne.
2) Macbeth looked terrified as he approaches the dining table. Why?
Because he sees the Banquo’s ghost.
ACT-4
1) Why did Macbeth go to see the three witches a second time?
He was afraid of losing his position as king.
2) Where did Macbeth go to find the witches?
On the heath on battle is over.
3) What three things did Macbeth hear about his fate?
That he was going to die for someone who was not born of a woman and what would happen when the
forest moved.
4) What did Macbeth tell Lennox to do to Macduff?
To go for him and his family
5) What happened at Macduff’s castle?
That they were all killed.
ACT-5
1) What did Lady Macbeth do over and over again while she was sleepwalking?
She believes she sees blood on her hands and tries to wash it away.
2) How did the prophecy about Birnam Wood come true?
The soldiers cut the branches of the trees
3) What happened to Lady Macbeth?
She committed suicide.
4) Who led the initial attack against Macbeth castle?
Macduff and Malcolm.
5) Why did Macduff want to kill Macbeth?
Because he killed his family.
