Act 1 ; Scene 1
Summary of Act 1, Scene 1:
Act 1, scene 1 included three witches who made plans to meet with Macbeth. The ominous, eerie, and intense weather allowed for the reader to insinuate the beginning of worrisome troubles.
Significance of this meme: This scene was relatively short and provided the reader with very less details and insight into what would happen further on in the play. This meme is able to capture the evil intentions of the three witches, and the fact that the reader (at this point) and other characters are unaware of the witches’ wicked and menacing intentions. Through the facial expression of the woman in the meme, one is able to comprehend the malicious intent of the witches.
Literary Devices or Connections (to important aspects of the scene): At the end of the scene, the witches chant “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” This line indicates that one should not judge purely based on face value. This meme gives a glimpse of how one can hide “foul” intentions and act “fair.” In other words, one can know something that might be beneficial not telling others.
Act 1; Scene 2
Summary of Act 1, Scene 2:
King Duncan is informed that Macbeth and Banquo fought with great courage and violence. A captain describes for Duncan how Macbeth slew the traitorous Macdonwald. Ross enters and tells the king that the traitorous thane of Cawdor has been defeated and the army of Norway repelled. Duncan decides that Macbeth should be crowned Thane. Ross leaves to deliver the news to Macbeth.
Significance of this meme: This meme captures Macbeth’s victory as he is given the title of the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth and Banquo both fought with great courage, yet Macbeth is awarded the title. This scene (and meme) indicate how Macbeth is unworthy of becoming Thane. The play suggested that the original Thane was traitorous and disloyal, foreshadowing that Macbeth will also follow the footsteps of this treachery and violence. The meme captures the idea that arguably, some supernatural forces (like the witches) played a crucial role in Macbeth’s title as Thane. This meme also portrays the idea of how Macbeth is unworthy of the title (due to evil deeds he will commit further on in the play) and how his victory was helped by numerous people and just not him. (Those who helped him win this title include the witches and Banquo, it wasn’t his sole effort)
Act 1; Scene 3
Summary of Act 1, Scene 3:
Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches and they are given three prophecies. The prophecies state that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, King of Scotland, and that Banquo will father a line of Kings.
Significance of this meme:
This meme captures the witches’ malicious intents and their effect on Macbeth. They are able to easily manipulate Macbeth by giving him false hopes. Mabeth’s belief in these prophecies is apparent when he states:
“Give me your favor. My dull brain was wrought/ with things forgotten.” (1.3, 150-155)
Macbeth is stating that he was distracted (thinking of the prophecies).
Act 1; Scene 4
Summary of Act 1, Scene 4:
Macbeth is told that he is the Thane of Cawdor. He later states that becoming a King “is a step on which [he] must fall down, or else o’erleap.” (1.4, 50-51). The scene showed the beginning of Macbeth’s greed that began to flood him.
Significance of this meme:
This meme captures Macbeth’s growing ambition and is likeliness to betray King Duncan after hearing the encouraging prophecies. His loyalty in this scene can be questioned.
Act 1; Scene 5
Summary of Act 1, Scene 5:
Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth that outlines the recent events that occurred. She persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan and fuels him with ambition.
Significance of this meme:
This meme depicts Lady Macbeth’s influence on Macbeth and how her desires can lead Macbeth to ruin. Unarguably, Lady Macbeth’s influence on Macbeth is apparent and it motivates him to commit evil.
Act 1; Scene 6
Summary of Act 1, Scene 6:
Duncan is invited to the Macbeth’s house. Lady Macbeth pretends to be welcoming. At this point, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are plotting to kill Duncan.
Significance of this meme:
Duncan clearly trusts the Macbeths and is unaware of their plans. He should have been more cautious, instead, he overly trusted Macbeth.
Act 1, Scene 7:
Summary of Act 1, Scene 7:
Lady Macbeth enters and tells her husband that the king has dined and that he has been asking for Macbeth. Macbeth declares that he no longer intends to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth, outraged, calls him a coward and questions his manhood: “When you durst do it,” she says, “then you were a man” (1.7.49). He then agrees to proceed with the murder.
Significance of this meme:
This scene (and meme) depict Lady Macbeth’s obvious influence on Macbeth. She is the driving force behind this murder, and should be equally at fault.
Act 2, Scene 1
Summary:
Banquo is suspicious of Macbeth; he later hallucinates and sees visions of a floating dagger.
Significance of this meme:
This meme displays Macbeth’s guilt and foreshadows the possible murder of Duncan. The famous dagger scene is key evidence of guilt that overtakes Macbeth along with his guilt-ridden thoughts.
Act 2; Scene 2
Summary:
After the murder pursues, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to stop being guilty and tells him to “be a man.” She insists that he should not think of the murder and that her “hands are of [his] color, but [she] shames, to wear a heart so white.”
Significance of this meme:
This scene revolves around the theme of masculinity. Lady Macbeth appears to be stronger than Macbeth, something that was rare during the Elizabethan Era.
Act 2, Scene 3
Summary of Act 2, Scene 3:
Others hear about the murder of Duncan. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pretend to be shocked about the murder, despite being the murderers themselves. Lady Macbeth faints.
Significance of this meme:
This meme revolves around the theme of appearance vs reality. The Macbeths pretend to be shocked about the murder and appear to be surprised. However, in reality, it is all pretend.
Act 2, Scene 4:
Summary of Act 2, Scene 4:
Suspicion has now fallen on the two princes, Malcolm and Donalbain, because they have fled the scene.
Significance of this meme:
This meme captures how the two princes. Malcolm and Donalbain immediately fled the scene following Duncan’s murder. This is important because it takes some attention away from Macbeth as suspicion has fallen on these two.
Act 3, Scene 1:
Act 3, Scene 1:
Macbeth plots to kill Banquo and hires three servants to do so. He instructs them to kill Banquo and Fleance. He outlines several reasons to persuade and convince the murderers.
Significance of this meme:
This meme highlights Macbeth’s confidence as he independently decides to murder Banquo. Lady Macbeth plays no role in this murder and it seems as if it is getting easier to murder every time.
Act 3, Scene 2:
Summary of Act 3, Scene 2:
Macbeth enters and tells his wife that he too is discontented, saying that his mind is “full of scorpions” (3.2.37). He feels that the business that they began by killing Duncan is not yet complete because there are still threats to the throne that must be eliminated. Macbeth tells his wife that he has planned “a deed of dreadful note” for Banquo and Fleance and urges her to be jovial and kind to Banquo during the evening’s feast, in order to lure their next victim into a false sense of security (3.2.45).
Significance of this meme:
This meme displays Macbeth’s guilt and this scene/meme describes how success achieved through dubious means always leads to unhappiness.
Act 3, Scene 3:
Summary of Act 3, Scene 3:
The murderers kill Banquo, who dies urging his son to flee. One of the murderers extinguishes the torch, and in the darkness Fleance escapes. The murderers leave with Banquo’s body to find Macbeth and tell him what has happened.
Significance of this meme:
This meme portrays the confusion during the murder and how Fleance managed to escape.
Act 3, Scene 4:
Summary of Act 3, Scene 4:
Macbeth sees a ghost of Banquo. Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband, saying that he occasionally has such “visions” and that the guests should simply ignore his behavior. The ghost disappears, and Macbeth recovers, telling his company: “I have a strange infirmity which is nothing / To those that know me” (3.4.85–86).
Significance of this meme:
This meme shows the sight that Macbeth witnessed out of guilt and paranoia. This scene, like the dagger scene, represents the affects of guilt and how one can become weak after murder.
Act 3, Scene 5:
Summary of Act 3, Scene 5:
Hecate scolds the witches for meddling in the business of Macbeth without consulting her. She says that when Macbeth comes the next day, they must summon visions and spirits whose messages will fill him with a false sense of security and “draw him on to his confusion” (3.5.29).
Significance of this meme:
Witchcraft, to some extent, seems to have an enormous effect on Macbeth’s actions. His life seems to worsen after this scene.
Act 3, Scene 6:
Summary of Act 3, Scene 6:
Lennox and The Lord discuss recent events and deem Macbeth a traitor. They both express their hope that Malcolm and Macduff will defeat Macbeth.
Act 4, Scene 1:
Summary of Act 4, Scene 1:
The witches present Macbeth with three apparitions that fuel his confidence and allow him to continue committing heinous deeds. He is only motivated by these apparitions and his confidence is renewed. He is told that none of woman borne shall harm him, and that he won’t be defeated until an entire forest moves. However, Macbeth does not think of the first apparition that tells him to be aware of Macduff.
Significance of this meme:
This meme quotes the witches’ line. It states that Macbeth will be presented with “double trouble” from now on.
Act 4, Scene 2:
Summary of Act 4 , Scene 2:
A messenger hurries in, warning Lady Macduff that she is in danger and urging her to flee. Lady Macduff protests, arguing that she has done no wrong. A group of murderers then enters. When one of them denounces Macduff, Macduff’s son calls the murderer a liar, and the murderer stabs him. Lady Macduff turns and runs, and the pack of killers chases after her.
Act 4, Scene 3:
Summary of Act 4, Scene 3:
Malcolm speaks with Macduff, telling him that he does not trust him since he has left his family in Scotland and may be secretly working for Macbeth. To determine whether Macduff is trustworthy, Malcolm rambles on about his own vices. Ross confesses to Macduff that Macbeth has murdered his wife and children. “Macduff is crushed with grief. Malcolm urges him to turn his grief to anger, and Macduff assures him that he will inflict revenge upon Macbeth.”
Significance of this meme:
This meme represents Malcolm’s suspicions about Macduff and suggests that perhaps he is unlike his father, who blindly trusted anyone. Malcolm is careful and cautious about who he trusts.
Act 5, Scene 1
Summary of Act 5, Scene 1:
A doctor and a gentlewoman discuss Lady Macbeth’s strange habit of sleepwalking. Suddenly, Lady Macbeth enters in a trance with a candle in her hand. She seems to see blood on her hands and claims that nothing will ever wash it off.
Act 5, Scene 2:
Summary of Act 5, Scene 2:
Outside the castle, a group of Scottish lords discusses the military situation: the English army approaches, led by Malcolm, and the Scottish army will meet them near Birnam Wood, apparently to join forces with them.
Act 5, Scene 3:
Summary of Act 5, Scene 3:
Macbeth strides into the hall of Dunsinane with the doctor and his attendants, boasting proudly that he has nothing to fear from the English army or from Malcolm, since “none of woman born” can harm him (4.1.96)
Significance of this meme:
This meme is important as it displays the overconfidence that the apparitions have had on Macbeth and how he truly believes that “none of woman borne shall harm him.”
Act 5, Scene 4
Summary of Act 5, Scene 4:
Malcolm talks with the English Lord Siward and his officers about Macbeth’s plan to defend the castle. They decide that each soldier should cut down a bough of the forest and carry it in front of him as they march to the castle, thereby disguising their numbers.
Act 5, Scene 5
Summary of Act 5, Scene 5:
A messenger enters and reports to Macbeth that the trees of Birnam Wood are advancing toward Dunsinane. Macbeth then recalls the prophecy that said he could not die till Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane.
Act 5, Scene 6:
Summary of Act 5, Scene 6:
Outside the castle, the battle commences. Malcolm orders the English soldiers to draw their swords.
Act 5, Scene 7
Summary of Act 5, Scene 7:
Macbeth finally encounters Macduff. They fight, and when Macbeth insists that he is invincible because of the witches’ prophecy, Macduff tells Macbeth that he was not of woman born, but rather “from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped” (5.10.15–16). Macbeth suddenly fears for his life.
Act 5, Scene 8:
Summary of Act 5, Scene 8:
Macbeth finally dies and Ross tells Siward that his son is dead. Macduff emerges with Macbeth’s head in his hand and proclaims Malcolm King of Scotland.
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