Macbeth Act 1 summary: Shakespeare's tragedy begins with three... Show more
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3 Jan 2026
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Super Simple Macbeth Scene by Scene Summary with Quotes
1 / 10
Act 2: The Deed is Done
The Macbeth Act 2 summary focuses on the murder of King Duncan and its immediate aftermath, marking a point of no return for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The act opens with a tense conversation between Banquo and Macbeth, hinting at the growing paranoia and suspicion that will characterize the rest of the play.
Scene 1 introduces one of the play's most famous soliloquies, as Macbeth hallucinates a floating dagger guiding him towards Duncan's chamber.
Quote: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?"
This vivid imagery underscores Macbeth's mental turmoil and the supernatural elements at play.
Scene 2 depicts the aftermath of Duncan's murder, with Macbeth returning to Lady Macbeth in a state of shock and guilt.
Highlight: The repeated mentions of blood in this scene establish it as a powerful motif symbolizing guilt throughout the play.
Lady Macbeth takes charge of the situation, demonstrating her strength and cunning as she instructs Macbeth to plant evidence on the guards.
Quote: "A little water clears us of this deed"
This line ironically foreshadows Lady Macbeth's later obsession with washing imaginary bloodstains from her hands.
The discovery of Duncan's body in Scene 3 creates chaos and suspicion. Macbeth's killing of the guards, ostensibly in a fit of rage, raises Banquo's suspicions.
Vocabulary: Regicide - the act of killing a king
The act concludes with Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, fleeing Scotland out of fear for their own lives. This action inadvertently casts suspicion on them and clears the way for Macbeth to claim the throne.
Throughout Act 2, Shakespeare masterfully builds tension and explores the psychological toll of murder on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, setting the stage for their eventual downfall.
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."
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Samantha Klich
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Super Simple Macbeth Scene by Scene Summary with Quotes
Macbeth Act 1 summary: Shakespeare's tragedy begins with three witches planning to meet Macbeth. King Duncan rewards Macbeth's battlefield heroics by naming him Thane of Cawdor. The witches prophesy Macbeth will become king, spurring his ambition. Lady Macbethpushes... Show more
Act 2: The Deed is Done
The Macbeth Act 2 summary focuses on the murder of King Duncan and its immediate aftermath, marking a point of no return for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The act opens with a tense conversation between Banquo and Macbeth, hinting at the growing paranoia and suspicion that will characterize the rest of the play.
Scene 1 introduces one of the play's most famous soliloquies, as Macbeth hallucinates a floating dagger guiding him towards Duncan's chamber.
Quote: "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand?"
This vivid imagery underscores Macbeth's mental turmoil and the supernatural elements at play.
Scene 2 depicts the aftermath of Duncan's murder, with Macbeth returning to Lady Macbeth in a state of shock and guilt.
Highlight: The repeated mentions of blood in this scene establish it as a powerful motif symbolizing guilt throughout the play.
Lady Macbeth takes charge of the situation, demonstrating her strength and cunning as she instructs Macbeth to plant evidence on the guards.
Quote: "A little water clears us of this deed"
This line ironically foreshadows Lady Macbeth's later obsession with washing imaginary bloodstains from her hands.
The discovery of Duncan's body in Scene 3 creates chaos and suspicion. Macbeth's killing of the guards, ostensibly in a fit of rage, raises Banquo's suspicions.
Vocabulary: Regicide - the act of killing a king
The act concludes with Duncan's sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, fleeing Scotland out of fear for their own lives. This action inadvertently casts suspicion on them and clears the way for Macbeth to claim the throne.
Throughout Act 2, Shakespeare masterfully builds tension and explores the psychological toll of murder on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, setting the stage for their eventual downfall.
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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."
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We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Most popular content: Macbeth
Most popular content in English Literature
Most popular content
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user