Lady Macbeth waits for Macbeth to finish the act of regicide. When he hears Lady Macbeth ring the bell to signal the completion of her preparations, Macbeth sets out to complete his part in the murderous plan. Macbeth sees a vision of a bloody dagger floating before him, leading him to Duncan's room. She then tells him her plan for the murder, which Macbeth accepts: they will kill him while his drunken bodyguards sleep, then plant incriminating evidence on the bodyguards. Lady Macbeth taunts him by telling him that he will only be a man if he kills Duncan. When Macbeth fails to appear, Lady Macbeth finds him is in his room, contemplating the weighty and evil decision to kill Duncan. When Duncan arrives at the castle, Lady Macbeth greets him alone. When Macbeth arrives, Lady Macbeth tells him that she will plot Duncan's murder. Energized by the news, Lady Macbeth invokes supernatural powers to strip her of feminine softness and thus prepare her for the murder of Duncan. A servant appears to inform her of Duncan's approach. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth informing her of the witches' prophesy and its subsequent realization.

Macbeth rides ahead to prepare his household. Macbeth and Banquo meet with Duncan, who announces that he is going to pay Macbeth a visit at his castle. Upon hearing this, Macbeth begins to contemplate the murder of Duncan in order to realize the witches' second prophecy.

After the witches disappear, Macbeth and Banquo meet two noblemen Ross and Angus, who announce Macbeth's new title as thane of Cawdor. The witches predict that Macbeth will be thane of Cawdor and king of Scotland, and that Banquo will be the father of kings.

Duncan decides to give the title of Thane of Cawdor to Macbeth.Īs Macbeth and Banquo return home from battle, they meet three witches. At the same time, news arrives concerning the arrest of the treacherous Thane of Cawdor. As the play opens, he learns of Macbeth's bravery in a victorious battle against Macdonald-a Scot who sided with the Norwegians. Duncan, the king of Scotland, is at war with the king of Norway.

Macbeth william shakespeare sparknotes