Act I-II
Macbeth's original title
Thane of Glamis
What happens at the banquet?
Macbeth finds the ghost of Banquo in his seat, causing him to panic. Lady Macbeth dismisses the guests, claiming this is only one of Macbeth's 'visions'.
How many witches give Macbeth apparations?
Three
How does Lady Macbeth die?
She commits suicide
Macbeth
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth feels that he is not worthy of the titles and is unsure if he wants to pursue these prophecies.
In the middle of the play: Macbeth is influenced by Lady Macbeth’s murderous suggestions and begins to spiral. After his first murder, King Ducan, he feels an immense sense of guilt.
At the end of the play: Macbeth is overtaken by greed and power hunger and feels invincible, becoming overconfident and ruthless.
The dagger symbolizes
The impact of Lady Macbeth's murderous attitude on Macbeth
How is Banquo murdered?
Macbeth hires murders to kill Banquo
The first apparition and its meaning
An armored, floating head tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff- Macduff kills Macbeth
Who becomes king at the end of the play?
Malcolm
Lady Macbeth
At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth was the driving force behind all of Macbeth’s evil acts a murders. After the murder of King Duncan, Lady Macbeth was hesitant when Macbeth wanted to continue his killing spree. Lady Macbeth then realized that Macbeth had gone too far. At the end of the play, she commits suicide due to overwhelming guilt.
Sleep symbolizes
The state of being unaware of the danger that you are in
Macbeth states that because the witches made him king but did not promise any bloodline also to be royalty, the scepter that they handed him was barren or infertile.
The second apparition and its meaning
A bloody child tells Macbeth that no man of woman born will harm him- Macduff was born of a cesarean section and will kill Macbeth
Who kills Macbeth?
Macduff
Macduff
At first, Macduff is fighting alongside Macbeth for King Duncan but he immediately does not believe Macbeth when he claims that the king was murdered by his servants. Macduff refuses to go to Macbeth’s coronation, awakening a wrath in Macbeth that he takes out on Macduff throughout the rest of the play in his rabid desires for power. Macduff not attending the coronation told Macbeth that Macduff would not be loyal to him and this scared him, making him worried that he would be a threat to his promised power. This triggers Macbeth to order men to murder Macduff’s wife and children while Macduff is on the way to England to beg for aid from King Edward in his cause against Macbeth. Macduff never reveals why he abandoned his wife and kids but he spends the rest of the play attempting to avenge them and place Malcolm, the son of King Duncan, on the throne.
Give an example of dramatic irony
Malcolm, Donalbain, and Macduff visit Macbeth's castle after he murders King Duncan
Who holds the barren scepter?
Macbeth
The third apparition and its meaning
A child wearing a crown and holding a tree tells Macbeth that he will be safe until Birnam Woods comes to Dunsinane Hill- Malcolm’s army will hold branches and disguise themselves as trees to invade Macbeth’s castle
Why does Lady Macbeth confess to the murders of Banquo and Lady Macduff?
She is sleepwalking
Banquo
At first, Banquo was very loyal to Macbeth and they were partners. Then, as Macbeth began to go crazy under the influence of his wife, Banquo began to doubt him and feel hesitant to continue to support him.
How does Lady Macbeth help Macbeth plan Banquo's death?
She is unaware of the plan and does not help Macbeth
How does Fleance die?
Fleance escapes the cave and runs away while the murders are killing his father, Banquo.
The fourth apparition and its meaning
A procession of eight kings (all descendants of Banquo) appears, the last holding a mirror. Followed by the ghost of Banquo at the end of the line- Banquo’s descendants will be king
Who remains loyal to Macbeth?
No one is loyal to Macbeth at the end of the play
Hecate
Hecate is the leader of the witches. She is seen reprimanding the witches for telling Macbeth riddles without her knowing. Hecate declares that she will spend her nights casting spells to ensure that Macbeth with fall into self-destruction. Hecate is also seen praising the witches for their work which ultimately shows Macbeth his fate. Macbeth decides to ignore these visions because he believes that he is too powerful and indestructible to be harmed. Although she only appears twice, the audience can feel her presence as she steers the witches' actions which cause Macbeth so much strife and struggle.