Sleep No More Program: Summary of Macbeth

Macbeth opens with thunder and lighting, as three witches are plotting their meeting with Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis. Macbeth and Banquo soon encounter the witches on a heath. The first witch hails Macbeth as “Thane of Glamis,” the second as “Thane of Cawdor,” and the third proclaims, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!” The witches then prophesize that Banquo will father a line of kings, though he himself will never be one. As quickly as the witches vanish, a messenger arrives with news from King Duncan: Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor. With the witches’ prophecies starting to come true, Macbeth begins to harbor ambitions of becoming king. He shares the predictions with his wife, Lady Macbeth, who becomes consumed with her husband’s potential ascent to the throne. When Duncan announces that he plans to visit Macbeth at his castle, Lady Macbeth concocts a scheme to kill the king and secure the throne for her husband. Macbeth is reluctant to go along with his wife’s plan of regicide, but Lady Macbeth convinces him to commit the murder.

Macbeth kills Duncan in the middle of the night and is immediately traumatized by his actions. Lady Macbeth is forced to assume control of their plan. Duncan’s son, Malcolm, discovers his father’s body and flees to hatch a plan with Banquo and Macduff to avenge his father’s death. With Malcolm and the rightful heirs gone, Macbeth, a kinsman to Duncan, assumes the throne as the new King of Scotland.

Macbeth is soon consumed with the witches’ prophesies for Banquo. When he receives word that Banquo will be leaving that night, Macbeth murders Banquo. With the burden of his guilt wearing him down, Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost at the royal banquet. His guests, however, see only an empty chair. As Macbeth screams at the apparition, Lady Macbeth forces everyone out of the banquet hall, desperate to keep her husband silent.

Macbeth visits the three witches again and is warned to “beware Macduff,” but also told that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” The witches’ last prophesy to Macbeth is that he “will never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” With Macduff gone, Macbeth decides to kill all who reside in Macduff’s home, including Macduff’s heavily pregnant wife. The crimes that Lady Macbeth and her husband have committed rack her with guilt. As she sleepwalks through the castle, she futilely tries to wash imaginary blood off of her hands.

When Malcom and Macduff learn that Macbeth has murdered Lady Macduff, they return to seek revenge. They take Macbeth by surprise by cutting down trees to camouflage themselves as they encroach on the castle, thus fulfilling the witches’ third prophesy. As the forces draw closer, Macduff and Macbeth are eventually locked in confrontation.