Scene 1:
Characters: Banquo, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Lenox, Rosse, Attendant
What happened: Banquo talks about his concern that Macbeth has now got everything the witches had promised, King, Cawdor, and Glamis, but he thinks Macbeth has played foully to get them. Macbeth hosts a banquet to celebrate his coronation and during it he asks Banquo a series of questions about his rider with Fleance the next day, as if he is planning something. During the banquet, two murderers come to speak to Macbeth and he organizes for Banquo and Fleance to be murdered when they ride. He does this because Banquo has reason to suspect Macbeth’s crimes and he doesn’t want Fleance to one day be King and not his own heirs.
Quotes:
“There is none but he/ Whose being I do fear” – about Banquo
“For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind/ For them gracious Duncan have I murdered”
“Rather than so, come, fate, into the list/ And champion me to the utterance”
Scene 2:
Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Servant
What happened: In Scene 2, Lady M and Macbeth discuss how the murder of King Duncan is troubling Macbeth because the problem is not over yet (referring to Banquo & Fleance). Lady M says that they cannot live forever and Macbeth keeps his plan to murder Banquo and Fleance a secret from her.
Quotes: ‘Oh, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.’
Macbeth has said that his mind is full of scorpions, because while Banquo and Fleance live he cannot rest.
Scene 3:
Characters: 3 murderers, Banquo, Fleance
What happened: The three murderers ambush Banquo and Fleance. Banquo says ” O treachery, Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly,fly! Thou mayest revenge!”. This is an important line from Macbeth because Fleance is supposed to be King one day, threatening Macbeth’s future heirs.
Scene 4:
Characters: Macbeth, Lady M, Rosse, Lenox, Lords, and Attendants
What happened:
The banquet is in play and Macbeth sees the first murderer at the door, he is covered in Banquo’s blood but Macbeth is appalled because Fleance escaped. Although Banquo is dead, there is still a major threat to Macbeth’s crown. He goes back to the banquet, Macbeth shouts out because he can see Banquo’s ghost in the room. He shouts like a madman at Banquo’s ghost whilst his friends watch on not being able to see the ghost. Lady Macbeth is playing it off as if this happens all the time and to not worry about Macbeth, because she’s afraid he will say something of the murders he has committed. Banquo disappears and Lady M orders everyone to leave. Whether or not Banquo’s ghost is truly present in the scene Macbeth’s mind is being consumed by his guilt and he is seeing ghosts, real or insane?
Quotes: Macbeth- “I am in blood, Stepped in so far, that, Should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.”
Scene 5:
Characters: 3 witches, Hecate (Goddess of Magic + Witchcraft)
Location: On a Heath (a barren scrubby wasteland)
Events: the 3 Witchesmeet with Hecate, goddess of Magic and she/he is angry that the witches gave Macbeth propehecies when he acts like a’ wayward son’ who doesn’t care of magic and witchcraft. Hecate told the witches to go and meet in the morning and Hecate will raise artifiical sprites to confuse Macbeth with their illusions. Hecate also says that security is a mortals biggest enemy.
Quotes:
“And you all know, security/ Is mortals chiefest enemy” – Hecate. Overconfidence can destroy a man if greed for power overcomes him.
This is avery strong important quote from Hecate, because having too much security/over confidence will ruin a man and cause him to wild unruly things.
Scene 6:
Characters: Lenox and Lord
Events: In Scene 6, Lenox talks to the Lord about the three murders that have taken place, how the guards were killed, Malcolm and ODnalbain blamed, Fleance blamed and all in favour of macbeth. He does this in a sarcastic way, this sequence of events makes Lenox think that Macbeth has committed all of these crimes in order to be King. He wants to warn Macduff that Macbeth is dangerous to him.
Quotes: