Scene 1

Characters: Witches 1-3, Macbeth, Lenox, Hecate, Apparitions 1(with an armoured head), Apparition 2 (a bloody child), Apparition 3 (a child crowned, with a tree in his hand).

Location: A dark cave. In the middle, a boiling cauldron.

Time: Unknown

Events: The three witches make an extremely powerful cauldron full of rare ingredients. Macbeth enters and declares he is willing for any disturbances to happen in the world and go against the natural order to find out what will happen in the future. Apparition 1 warns Macbeth of Macbeth saying “Beware of the Thane of Fife.” Appariton 2 claims no mortal person can kill Macbeth, this is a relief for Macbeth since he has been extremely paranoid after being named King. Apparition 3 claims Macbeth can’t be vanquished until Great Birnam goes to Dunsinane hill. Macbeth asks if Banquo’s sons will become a problem. Macbeth forces the witches to tell him or else he will cast a curse upon them. the witches show an image of eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand and Banquo’s ghost them in the front. All the Kings resemble Banquo. Macbeth is resolving to act on his instincts and not think it through so that it is done in the moment. Macbeth goes to kill Macduff and his family to stop his line of the family becoming royalty.

Quotes: “Be bloody, bold and resolute: laugh to scorn The power of man, for none of born Shall harm Macbeth.” – Apparition 2. Apparition 2 is  claiming Macbeth cannot be killed by any mortal being.

Scene 2

Characters: Lady Macduff, Lady Macduff’s Son, Rosse, Messenger, Murderer

Location: Fife. A room in Macduff’s castle

Time: Unknown

Events: Lady Macduff and her son discuss how they define Macduff as a traitor for running off without protecting his family. Lady Macduff defines a traitor as “one that swears and lies.” The Macduff Family also feel like they are traitors for going against King Macbeth, who they should be loyal to. However, they know it would be wrong to believe in Macbeth, so for their country and morals they must go against Macbeth. This is similar to many situations in current times such as: when if your friend does something bad you feel obligated to keep what you know to yourself, despite knowing it’s wrong and feeling you should tell someone of greater authority but in doing this you break the loyalty to your friend so sometimes keep quiet instead as it causes less repercussions for yourself. A messenger comes and informs Lady Macduff that her and her children are in danger and should flee quickly, this is putting the messenger at greater danger despite it being the right thing to do. A murderer then arrives and stabs Lady Macduff’s son to death and then Lady Macduff runs and is pursued by the murderers.

Quotes:

Scene 3

Characters: Malcolm, Macduff, Doctor, Rosse.

Location: England. A room in the King’s palace

Time: Unknown

Events: Tragedies are happening every day in Scotland. Malcolm and Macduff discuss their shared hatred for Macbeth. Malcolm brings up the that he has the right to be King and that the country would welcome him as King if they were to get rid of Macbeth. Malcolm confesses to Macduff that he has more vices than Macbeth. He claims to Macduff “In my voluptuousness: your wives, your daughters, your matrons and your maids, could not fill up the cistern of my lust;” and that “And my more having would be a sauce To make me hunger more, that I should forge, Quarrels unjust against the good and loyal, destroying them for wealth.” while Macduff constantly reassures Malcolm would be a better King than Macbeth. Malcolm then reveals that everything he has just claimed was not true, this was a test to Macduff’s loyalty and that he has passed. Malcolm is believes truth is more important than life and has never actually had sex with a woman. Rosse arrives from Scotland and lies about Lady Macduff and her children being well. They discuss how people from Scotland even the women would fight for them. Rosse then informs them of Macduff’s family being slaughtered. Rosse says use this as power to get revenge and use it as motivation. Macduff decides he will kill Macbeth.

Quotes:

 

Join the conversation! 1 Comment

  1. This is a very detailed summary of the events in the scene. To go further, the next step is to comment on the significance of these events. You could think about what the audience might think, what effect the decisions Macbeth is making might have on Scotland as a whole – and what his view is about that.

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