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King Duncan of Scotland and his army fought against the army of the King of Norway. One of his Thanes was Macbeth who defeated the enemy very hard in the clash. After the battle he and his friend Banquo were coming home very excited when they saw three witches standing around a fire who made to Macbeth some predictions: he will be Thane of Cawdor, then King of Scotland and Banquo’s descendants will become kings. The witches suddenly disappeared and, in the meantime, a messenger from the King arrived announcing that Duncan wanted to reward Macbeth for his courage and loyalty so he was the new Thane of Cawdor. Upon hearing this, he started thinking the witches told the truth and was delighted about the idea of becoming king. King Duncan decided to honour him by visiting his castle of Dunsinane at Inverness. So Macbeth and his wife made a plan to murder him. Macbeth did not have the courage to commit this crime but, spurred by the ambitious Lady Macbeth, he killed Duncan with the sleeping soldier’s knife. He wanted that everyone believed the guards of the king were framed for the murder. When Macduff, the Thane of Fife, arrived at the castle to call on the king, the crime was discovered and Duncan’s two sons Malcolm and Donalbain left the castle secretly, fearing for their lives. Their speedy departure seemed to be proof they were guilty so the thanes of Scotland made Macbeth the new King. Thinking to the witches’ prophecy, Macbeth’s fear of Banquo and his son Fleance increased, then he arranged for their murder but the plan went wrong and Fleance escaped after his father’s death. Following this event Macbeth saw the ghost of Banquo and he was very terrified. Macbeth went again to meet the three witches to interrogate the spirits about his destiny. They told him that: he must be careful of Macduff, no man “of woman born” could hurt him and he will never be defeated until Birman Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill. Some of the Thanes of Scotland began to be suspicious of Macbeth and they were turning against him, so, while Macduff was in England, Macbeth ordered the killing of Lady Macduff and her son. Macduff joined Malcolm and the English army to get revenge for his family. They marched to Dunsinane and used branches from Birnam Wood as camouflage. Lady Macbeth was driven to madness by her guilt and she died before the battle. The prophecy was being fulfilled… Although Macbeth fought with courage, the English army was winning and the castle was taken. At that moment, Macduff appeared, he raised his sword and shouted that he was the man “not born of woman” as he was taken early from his mother’s body. Macbeth died like a king and Macduff killed the murderer of his wife and children. Malcolm became the rightful king of Scotland. Main characters MACBETH He is a brave warrior and a powerful man but he is not a virtuous one because his response to every problem is violence and atrocities. His loyalty is true only in the battle but not in life because he commits some crimes, killing his friends (Duncan, Banquo and Macduff’s family). His ambition to the throne makes him a murderer but he lacks the skills necessary to rule as king. However he is never comfortable in his role as a criminal and sometimes he shows to be weak and fearful. Towards the end of the play, when he realizes that he is doomed, he briefly returns to be the heroic man as at the beginning. LADY MACBETH Macbeth’s wife is a very ambitious woman, very determined to get power and position. At the beginning, she seems to be stronger and more cruel than her husband as she convinces him to kill Duncan. She and Macbeth are deeply in love, so Lady Macbeth has a great influence over him. Furthermore, their partnership in crime seems to increase the attachment that they feel to each other. However, following the murders, she falls victim to guilt and madness to an even greater degree than her husband and her conscience leads her to death. BANQUO He is a Scottish Thane, the noble and brave friend of Macbeth. Banquo is as ambitious as Macbeth, but unlike him he resists putting his selfish ambition above his honor or the good of Scotland. Banquo is the living example of the noble path that Macbeth chose not to take. After Macbeth kills him, his ghost haunts Macbeth and this symbolizes Macbeth's dreadful guilt at what he has become. KING DUNCAN He is the good and generous king of Scotland killed by Macbeth. He is not only kind but also a very trusting fellow although he is also ready to punish his enemies.