Act 1: Setting the Stage for Tragedy

Shakespeare's Macbeth Act 1 summary scenes 1-7 introduces the key characters and conflicts that will drive the tragic plot forward. The act opens with three witches planning to meet Macbeth, immediately establishing the supernatural element that will influence events.

Highlight: The witches' chant "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" foreshadows the play's themes of deception and moral ambiguity.

In Scene 2, we learn of Macbeth's valor in battle against rebel forces. King Duncan, impressed by Macbeth's loyalty and bravery, decides to reward him with the title of Thane of Cawdor. This sets the stage for the fulfillment of the witches' prophecy.

Scene 3 presents the pivotal encounter between Macbeth, Banquo, and the witches. Their prophecies that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and eventually king plant the seeds of ambition in Macbeth's mind.

Quote: "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!"

The news that Macbeth has indeed been named Thane of Cawdor lends credibility to the witches' words, fueling Macbeth's desire for the crown.

Scenes 4 and 5 shift the focus to Lady Macbeth, introducing her as a powerful force behind her husband's ambitions. Upon receiving Macbeth's letter about the prophecies, she immediately begins plotting Duncan's murder.

Quote: "Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here"

Lady Macbeth's soliloquy reveals her determination to push aside any feminine weakness to achieve her goals, highlighting the play's exploration of gender roles and power.

The act concludes with Macbeth's famous soliloquy in Scene 7, where he grapples with the moral implications of killing Duncan. This internal conflict sets up the central tension of the play between ambition and conscience.

Quote: "I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on th' other."