Act 2- The plan to kill Duncan is underway, and Lady Macbeth has figured everything out. After dinner, the party guests drink themselves into a stuper, and Lady Macbeth drugs the guards so they stay fast asleep. Deep in the night, Macbeth sneaks out and stabs Duncan to death, and is immediately struck with grief over the crime he has just commited. He forgets to cover the guards with Duncan's blood, so Lady Macbeth takes the dagger and finishes the job. In the morning, Macduff goes to awake the King, only to find him murdered. He alerts the castle, and Macbeth goes and kills the guards out of "rage over their obvious guilt". Duncan's sons fear for their own lives, and decide to flee the country. The only result of this is suspicions as to their own possible involvement in the crime.

 

Act 3- Macbeth and his Lady are now the King and Queen of Scotland. Macbeth begins to become concerned about Banquo's knowledge of what really happened that night in the castle. Banquo seems to know more that Macbeth is comfortable with. So, fearing his reputation, Macbeth assigns murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. The murderers kill Banquo, but Fleance escapes. The murderers report to Macbeth, and Macbeth suddenly sees Banquo's ghost at the dinner table. The dinner guests are extremely frightened about Macbeth's sudden outburst, as no one other than Macbeth can see Banquo. Lady Macbeth convinces the guests to go home, blaming an illness for Macbeth's outburst. Macbeth leaves to consult the witches once again.

 

Act 4-  The witches convince Macbeth that he is, indeed, safe. They tell him that he cannot be killed by any man born of a woman, and that he will never be defeated in battle until the Dunsinane wood marches toward his castle. Macbeth is relieved by this, but still worries about Banquo's children taking over his throne. Macbeth finds out that Macduff has gone to England, leaving his children and wife behind. Macbeth orders the entire family murdered, and Macduff is none the wiser. Macduff is in England trying to convince Duncan's son Malcom to come home and overthrow Macbeth. Malcolm vows loyalty to Macduff, and Macduff, hearing through a messenger that his family was murdered, vows vengeance against Macbeth.

 

Act 5- Lady Macbeth is slowly going insane over the events that have taken place. She is haunted by an imaginary spot of blood on her hand, reminding her of her involvement in Duncan's murder. She finally decides nothing is worth the torture she is enduring, and she kills herself. Malcom's army joins with others, and the new large army begins their approach towards Macbeth's castle. Before their approach, Malcolm orders everyone to cut down the trees in the forest and use them to disquise themselves. Macbeth recieves news of his wife's suicide, and is seemingly unaffected by the news. He then hears that the Dunsinane forest appears to be approaching the castle! Fearing his impending doom, Macbeth goes out and begins fighting against Malcolm. Macbeth warns Malcolm that he cannot be killed by any man born of a woman, and Malcolm informs Macbeth that he was not born, but in fact ripped from his mother's womb. They fight until Macbeth is murdered. Macbeth's head is presented to Malcolm by Macduff, and Malcolm is declared the new King of Scotland.