Macbeth tells the story of the fall of a Scottish commander who, after hearing from three witches that he will be king, murders King Duncan to seize the crown, and is driven by new crimes, by fear, and by guilt until he is killed by Macduff.
In Act I, after defeating the rebel Macdonwald and the Norwegians, Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches on the heath (scene 3). They greet Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future king, and tell Banquo that his sons will be kings. Ross and Angus arrive soon after and name Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, and Duncan names his son Malcolm heir (scene 4). Lady Macbeth takes over the plan and, in scene 7, shames him for backing down. In Act II, Macbeth kills Duncan at night, in the castle of Inverness. The king's chamberlains take the blame and are killed by him, Malcolm and Donalbain flee, and Macbeth is elected king.
In Act III, because of the prophecy that Banquo's sons will be kings, Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo dies, Fleance escapes, and at the banquet Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost. In Act IV, the witches show him three apparitions, and he orders the massacre of Macduff's family, who fled to England.
In Act V, Lady Macbeth, asleep, rubs her hands and murmurs about blood, and the queen dies. Malcolm's army advances through Birnam with branches in hand, and Macduff, who was torn by force from his mother's womb before his time, kills Macbeth. Malcolm is hailed as king.