The Downfall of Macbetth

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 3

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In Act 1, we do not meet Macbeth until scene 3 where he meets the three witches. They predict Macbeth will become king. They also predict Banquo's heirs will become king, but he will not become king himself. Even though they say Macbeth will become king, they do not say his heirs will become king, which makes you think this is a foreshadow to Macbeth's downfall.

Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 5 and 7

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Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth in this scene and starts to make plans herself. She fears Macbeth's nature is "too full o'th' milk of human kindness" and that Macbeth won't do what it takes to become king. She is going to try to convince Macbeth to do what it takes but she is also planning to help in this. In scene 7, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth make their plans to kill Duncan and this seals his own fate.

Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 1 and 2

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Macbeth has his soliloquy where his sees the dagger before him and then in scene 2 he tells Lady Macbeth "I have done the deed" and he and Lady Macbeth start to feel guilty for what they have done. Macbeth says he has "hangman's hands" and he goes to wash the blood off his hands and conscience.

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 1 and 2

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Banquo realizes the witches' prediction came true for Macbeth, but he suspects Macbeth "play'dst most foully for't" -- he suspects foul play. Macbeth now sees Banquo as an enemy. He cannot enjoy being king because he has to be on alert to protect his place, and he hires murderers to kill Banquo. Macbeth is falling further into the darkness that he himself foreshadowed would happen if he killed Duncan. In scene 2, Macbeth talks about the terrible dreams that he and Lady Macbeth have nightly.

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 3

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Macbeth learns of Banquo's death and then has a vision of Banquo's ghost sitting in his place. He says the table is full because he sees the ghost there and won't sit down. Macbeth tries to sit down and eat with his guests but he still sees Banquo staring at him and he sees Banquo's ghost bleeding. He is sinking further into his own guilt for what he's done.

Macbeth, Act 3, Scene 6

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Lennox and another lord start to put the pieces together and realize that these deaths are not coincidences and figure out that it must be Macbeth behind the murders. Macduff has gone to England to get help from the king.

Macbeth, Act 4, Scene 1

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Macbeth goes to see the three witches again. He says he will kill Macduff. An apparition tells him that Macbeth shall not be defeated until Great Birnam wood actually gets up and comes after him. He thinks this will never happen, so he is safe. But the witches also show him Banquo's descendants as kings and so this does not make him happy. Now, he is sinking further into the darkness and proposes to capture Macduff's castle and kill his wife and children.

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 1

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Lady Macbeth is convicted by her conscience and has gone insane. She keeps trying to wash the blood off her hands. Macbeth's family is now spiraling as the guilt weighs upon them.

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 4 and 5

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In Birnam wood, Malcolm tells each soldier to cut down a tree branch and carry it as a disguise and they will surprise attack Dunsinane. In scene 5, a messenger tells Macbeth it looks as if the wood is moving toward them. Macbeth is now getting scared. He realizes the witches' prophecy is true but decides to go down fighting but he thinks he still might have a chance because the witches also told him that the person who kills him is not born of a woman.

Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 8

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Macduff tells Macbeth he was "untimely ripped" from his mother's womb (C-section), and so he was not technically born of a woman. They fight and Macbeth is killed by Macduff.