Book Summary of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare

Main Characters:
● Macbeth: Scottish general
● Lady Macbeth: Macbeth’s wife
● Three Witches: Prophets who speak to Macbeth on multiple occasion
● Banquo: Friend of Macbeth, then enemy of Macbeth.
● King Duncan: King of Scotland
● Malcolm: Duncan’s son
● Macduff: Enemy of Macbeth

Scotland is at war in the opening scene, and two of Scotland’s generals, Macbeth and Banquo,
are returning from a successful battle. They are intercepted by three hags who tell the generals
about a prophesy. The witches claim that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then King
of Scotland. They also claim that though Banquo will never become a king himself, he will father
a long line of kings. Both generals are initially skeptical of these claims, until a few moments
later when Macbeth is appointed Thane of Cawdor after the current Thane betrayed Scotland.

Macbeth begins to believe in the predictions made by the three witches, and he writes to his
wife, Lady Macbeth. Upon Macbeth’s return, his wife is waiting to greet her husband and
discuss their possible fate. Together they decide that the one sure way to attain kingship is to kill
Duncan, the current King of Scotland. At first Macbeth is unsure about the plan, but Lady
Macbeth manages to convince him otherwise. One night, Macbeth stabs Duncan in his sleep
and blames the guards outside his chambers. Macduff, a nobleman, discovers the body.

Immediately, the effects of the murder begin to bother both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth sees ghostly images, and Lady Macbeth has sleepless nights filled with night terrors.
Macbeth is named king after Duncan’s death, and he and Lady Macbeth continue to plot.
Remembering the rest of the prophecy, Macbeth plans to murder Banquo and his son to ensure
that Banquo’s line of kings never exists. Ultimately, Banquo is killed, but Banquo’s son escapes.

After Banquo’s murder, the toll of their actions sink in deeper for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth continues to see ghostly images, and Lady Macbeth continues to regret her decisions.
Paranoia sends Macbeth back to the witches for reassurance that his kingship is secure. The
witches tell him three things: he should beware Macduff, he will be unharmed by any man born
of woman, and he should only worry when Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth
is slightly relieved but does order that Macduff’s castle be seized and his family be murdered.

Macduff hears of his family’s demise and begins a crusade against Macbeth. While an army
sweeps in from England to battle Macbeth, Lady Macbeth succumbs to her own guilt and
commits suicide. Macbeth is overcome with grief but prepares for battle nevertheless. He is
horrified to discover that the army approaching him is carrying branches of trees from Birnam
Wood and that the witch’s warnings are coming true. He fights strongly until he is face to face
with the vengeful Macduff who proclaims that he was not born of woman but taken from his
mother’s womb early (by C-section). Macduff then proceeds to murder and behead Macbeth,
and Duncan’s son Malcolm is named King of Scotland.