SUMMARY
Macbeth was a brave general and a near kinsman to Duncan, the king, of Scotland. Of late the rebel army had been defeated in the battle—all by Macbeth and Banquo, another Scottish general. They were returning from this great battle. A deserted heath lay on their way. The three witches appeared before Macbeth and Banquo. They hailed the former as Thane of Glamis and of Cawdor and 'King' hereafter. Banquo was promised that though no king himself, his sons after him would be kings in Scotland. Making this prophecy in riddling terms they disappeared into air. Immediately certain messengers from the king brought the news of Macbeth's new honour on the spot. They conferred upon him the dignity of Thane of Cawdor. In this way the first prophecy came to be true and Macbeth stood in surprise. At that time he hoped that the next prediction of becoming the king of Scotland would go in his favour. Then Macbeth asked about Banquo's hope of his children to be the future kings of Scotland. Banquo told that these truths might mislead them into dangerous consequences in future. But Macbeth turned a deaf ear to Banquo's warnings. The thought of occupying the throne of Scotland flashed across his mind.
Macbeth communicated the strange prediction of the witches to his wife. Lady Macbeth was bad and ambitious. The prophecy inflamed her too with ambition. She incited Macbeth continuously to murder Duncan as a step to be the king of Scotland. Duncan was a graceful king. He came to visit Macbeth's castle with his two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, including a number of thanes and attendants. He wanted to honour Macbeth for his success in the battle. The king was very pleased at the reception of Lady Macbeth in the airy, beautiful castle of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth hid her treacherous purpose under innocent smile. Duncan had sent many presents to his officers and presented Lady Macbeth a rich diamond. Then he went to sleep with two grooms beside him in his chamber.
At midnight Lady Macbeth waked up to plot the murder of the king. She knew her husband’s ambition. Macbeth was too scrupulous to prepare himself for the murder. So Lady Macbeth herself took a dagger. She approached the king’s bed chamber. She intoxicated the sleeping grooms with wine. She saw Duncan sleeping in his chamber. But Duncan’s face resembled his own father. So she decided to proceed no further. Thereafter she handed over the charge to Macbeth. But Macbeth found strong reasons not to commit the murder. First he was a near kinsman to the king. Secondly, his hospitality moved him very much. Moreover Duncan was just and merciful to his subjects and Macbeth himself. Macbeth thought it. Even such kings were always under the grace and blessings of God for their nobility. Besides Macbeth’s reputation and honour would be stained for the murder. Lady Macbeth was firm to ‘pour her spirits in his ear’. She tried to make him understand how soon the work would be over easily. She treated Macbeth with contempt for his change of purpose. She accused him of cowardice. She remained firm in her mind. She would even kill a smiling innocent baby sucking from her breast only to keep her promise. Moreover it would be easy to lay the guilt of the deed upon the drunken sleepy grooms. Lady Macbeth's constant pursuasion won him over. Macbeth was settled.
Macbeth took the dagger in his hand. He was going to Duncan's room. The thought of the crime made him see a blood-stained dagger in the air. But it was only an unreal fear of his mind. Gradually Macbeth overcame his fear. He killed Duncan with one stroke of his dagger. At that time one of the grooms laughed in his sleep. The other cried the word, 'Murder'. Both of them woke up. But they said a short prayer and went to sleep again. Macbeth wanted to say 'Amen', but 'Amen' stuck in his throat. Macbeth's agony went from more to more. In murdering Duncan, Macbeth had murdered sleep, peace and content. He moved about in a distracted state of mind. He did nothing to remove the traces of his crime. Lady Macbeth scolded him. She sent Macbeth to wash his blood-stained hands. Then she went to the grooms with the. dagger. She smeared their cheeks with drops of blood from the dagger. She wanted to make the suspicion fall on them.
The murder was discovered in the next morning. Macbeth and his wife made a great show of grief. There were enough proofs for the grooms to appear guilty. Yet the suspicion fell on Macbeth. Malcolm, the eldest son of Duncan had run away for protection in an English court. Donalbain, the youngest son fled away to Ireland. Macbeth was next crowned king for want of Duncan's heir to the throne. Thus the third prediction of the witches came to be true. But Banquo's children would be an heir to the throne. This thought of the next prophecy haunted Macbeth and his queen. So they were determined to put Banquo and his son to death. They arranged a great supper for this purpose. All the chief thanes, including Banquo and his son were invited. Banquo was stabbed to death by the murderers set by Macbeth. Fleance, Banquo's son, made his escape. Afterwards Fleance's successors became the Scottish kings.
At supper Lady Macbeth received all the guests with attention and grace. Macbeth talked freely with them. His thanes and nobles were criticising Banquo for being late. Just then the ghost of Banquo came. He took the seat which Macbeth was about to Occupy. Macbeth was afraid. He was looking fixedly at the ghost. His queen and all the nobles saw him gazing at an empty chair. Lady Macbeth and all the nobles took it for a fit of distraction. Macbeth's wife' wanted to make the situation easy. But Macbeth continued to see the ghost. He even spoke some distracted but significant words. The queen got afraid of the secret being revealed to all. So she begged excuse from the guests. She spoke of the weakness of Macbeth as a common illness of the mind. She dismissed the guests. Finally, she left the place with Macbeth in a hurry.
Macbeth and his queen had bad dreams in their sleep. Banquo's blood troubled them. Even the thought that Fleance as father to a line of kings made them restless. so Macbeth went out to meet the witches. He wanted to know the worst consequence of his future. He found them in a cave upon the heath. They were preparing their Charms with many odd things in a great cauldron. Macbeth then demanded to meet the masters of the witches. Their masters were the three spirits. The first spirit looked like an armed head. He warned Macbeth to be aware of Macduff, the thane of Fife. The second spirit looked like a bloody child. He made a prophecy that none of woman born should have power to hurt Macbeth. Macbeth had nothing to fear about Macduff. Yet he wanted to get rid of the fear induced by Macduff and so he would not allow Macduff to live long. Then the third spirit arose in the form of a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. He assured that Macbeth would not be defeated until the wood of Birnam to Dunsinane Hill came against him. Macbeth felt comfortable. He thought that none could unfix the forest. So he would not be killed violently. In the midst of noise of music Banquo and many other shadowy figures like kings emerged. Macbeth knew that Banquo's children should reign after him in Scotland. Now Macbeth got afraid.
Meanwhile Macduff, the thane of Fife had fled to England. He joined the army under Malcolm to displace Macbeth. Now Macbeth came to the castle of Macduff and killed his wife, children and relatives. Already, all his chief nobility fled to join Malcolm and Macduff. They were now approaching with powerful army against him. Macbeth grew jealous of Duncan who had been sleeping peacefully in his grave. His wife could not console him in his trouble. Lady Macbeth could not bear public hate or remorse of guilt any more. She seemed to have committed suicide.
Macbeth was left alone. He shut himself up in his castle. Now the Scottish army under Malcolm and Macduff were marching through the wood of Birnam with boughs before them. Then a messenger came to Macbeth. He told that the wood of Birnam was moving towards Dunsinane. Hearing this Macbeth grew wild. The words of the spirit became true. Macbeth could not avoid his encounter with Macduff. Macduff regarded him as a murderer, tyrant and villain for killing his wife and children. Macbeth called 'up the words of the spirit. He told that he would never yield to one of woman born. Then Macduff told about his unusual and untimely birth in this world. Macbeth was sad. He thought that the witches deceived him with double meaning. Macduff wanted to display Macbeth as a tyrant monster to others for the rest of his life. But Macbeth did not want to surrender at the feet of Malcolm. A great fighting followed. Macduff cut off his head and presented it to Malcolm. Malcolm ascended the throne of Duncan, replacing Macbeth.
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