Macbeth is set in Scotland around 1040 A.D. given the historical figures and events that happen in the play. A basic outline of the plot would be:
-Macbeth begins the play as the greatest warrior in King Duncan's army
-3 witches meet Macbeth and decide to trick him into believing he is going to become king of Scotland. They tell him that he will become Thane of Cawdor first, and then receive the crown.
-When Macbeth meets King Duncan after the battle, Duncan informs Macbeth he has been given the honor of being Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth now believes the prophesy of the witches and becomes obsessed with becoming king. He shares this passion with his wife.
-Together, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plan to kill Duncan while he is staying with them at their home. Lady Macbeth must complete the act because Macbeth is unable to. Duncan's sons grow frightened when they hear of their father's death, and fearing they are next, flee the country.
-Macbeth takes the throne because Duncan's sons are not around to accept the honor. Once Macbeth is named king, he becomes increasingly paranoid because the witches also predicted his best friend, who was also with him when he met the witches, would be the father of kings. Macbeth grows worried that Banquo will try to take the throne, so he has him murdered.
-The witches meet back with Macbeth and inform him that no man born of a woman will be able to kill him. Macbeth grows more dangerous and powerful as a result.
-Many others die as a result of the twisted plan to keep the murder of Duncan a secret, and eventually Lady Macbeth commits suicide as well. Duncan's sons form as army and come back to take the throne from Macbeth, and Macbeth is met by a vengeful Macduff, a warrior who's family Macbeth had killed. Macduff states that he was not born of woman, but rather ripped from his mother's womb, and Macbeth realizes he has been tricked by the witches into thinking he was invinceable. Macbeth dies, and Malcolm, Duncan's eldest son, takes over as king.
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