Summary of Act 1 Scenes in Macbeth
ACT 1 SCENE SUMMARIES
Macbeth
1:1 – An Open Field (heath)
Characters:
Three witches
Action:
Three witches meet in an open field, speaking
about a war that is almost over. They agree to meet again,
upon the heath, with Macbeth present.
Staging:
The “heath”; thunder, lightning—witches may
be flying above a cauldron
Problem or Solution:
Unsure; they want to meet with
Macbeth for some reason. Since this very short scene is
the opening of the play, we are not sure what is to come.
It begins the play with a dark sense of the unknown.
1:2 – King Duncan’s Camp at Forres
Characters:
King Duncan, Malcolm, the Captain,
Lennox, Ross
Action:
The Captain meets King Duncan and tells about
Macbeth and the way he valiantly fought Macdonwald.
He says it was a good fight. Macbeth slit Macdonwald
down the middle, then cut off his head and stuck it on
top of his sword. Ross announces they have won the
battle. The King sends Ross to crown Macbeth the Thane
of Cawdor.
Staging:
King’s throne, good furniture, flags of
Scotland; bloody Captain
Problem or Solution:
Solution; Macbeth has helped
Duncan and Scotland win the war against Norway, now
Macbeth is being honored by Duncan by being promoted
to the title of Thane of Cawdor.
1:3 – Upon the Heath
Characters:
three witches, Macbeth, Banquo, Ross,
Angus
Action:
Witches appear; meet with Macbeth and
Banquo—they give both the prophecies; Ross and
Angus tell Macbeth he is the new Thane of Cawdor
Staging:
the heath, witches, cauldron
Problem or Solution:
Problem—Macbeth and
Banquo both want to see how this will play out.
Macbeth is already thinking evil thoughts about how
he is rising to become king.
1:4 – Duncan’s Camp at Forres
Characters:
Duncan, Malcolm, Macbeth
Action:
Macbeth comes to the King‘s camp; Duncan
thanks him, but names Malcolm his successor.
Macbeth is not happy about this.
Staging:
same as scene two
Problem or Solution:
Problem—Duncan names
Malcolm as successor, while Macbeth thought he
would be named.
1:5 – Macbeth’s Castle at Inverness
Characters:
Lady Macbeth, Macbeth
Action:
Lady Macbeth receives Macbeth‘s letter—she
vows to get rid of Duncan, but is afraid Macbeth is not
man enough. She asks the gods to make her manly
enough to take over if she has to. Macbeth arrives, and
they conspire.
Staging:
somewhere where Lady Macbeth can be alone
with her thoughts—a bedroom or a bathroom? Possibly a
library or reading room; Lady Macbeth needs a letter for
a prop
Problem or Solution:
Problem—Lady Macbeth feels
they must kill Duncan, but is Macbeth strong and
courageous enough to do it, or will she have to do it
herself?
1:6 - Macbeth’s Castle at Inverness
Characters:
Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth
Action:
Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle, he feels
very comfortable there. Lady Macbeth welcomes him
with open arms.
Staging:
Outdoors, in the open area of the castle
Problem or Solution:
Problem—Duncan feels
much too comfortable in Macbeth‘s castle.
1:7 - Macbeth’s Castle at Inverness
Characters:
Macbeth, Lady Macbeth
Action:
Macbeth is having second thoughts about
killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth berates him and tries
to give him a ―pep talk.
Staging:
in Macbeth‘s chamber or a library—
somewhere they have privacy
Problem or Solution:
Problem—Macbeth is losing
his nerve.
Three witches gather in an open field, discussing Macbeth and a war. Macbeth is praised by King Duncan and rewarded. The witches meet Macbeth and Banquo, giving prophecies that trouble Macbeth. Lady Macbeth contemplates the murder of Duncan. Despite Macbeth's doubts, they plan to proceed. Duncan names Malcolm as his successor, further unsettling Macbeth.
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Presentation Transcript
Macbeth ACT 1 SCENE SUMMARIES
1:1 An Open Field (heath) Characters: Three witches Action: Three witches meet in an open field, speaking about a war that is almost over. They agree to meet again, upon the heath, with Macbeth present. Staging: The heath ; thunder, lightning witches may be flying above a cauldron Problem or Solution: Unsure; they want to meet with Macbeth for some reason. Since this very short scene is the opening of the play, we are not sure what is to come. It begins the play with a dark sense of the unknown.
1:2 King Duncans Camp at Forres Characters: King Duncan, Malcolm, the Captain, Lennox, Ross Action: The Captain meets King Duncan and tells about Macbeth and the way he valiantly fought Macdonwald. He says it was a good fight. Macbeth slit Macdonwald down the middle, then cut off his head and stuck it on top of his sword. Ross announces they have won the battle. The King sends Ross to crown Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor. Staging: King s throne, good furniture, flags of Scotland; bloody Captain Problem or Solution: Solution; Macbeth has helped Duncan and Scotland win the war against Norway, now Macbeth is being honored by Duncan by being promoted to the title of Thane of Cawdor.
1:3 Upon the Heath Characters: three witches, Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, Angus Action: Witches appear; meet with Macbeth and Banquo they give both the prophecies; Ross and Angus tell Macbeth he is the new Thane of Cawdor Staging: the heath, witches, cauldron Problem or Solution: Problem Macbeth and Banquo both want to see how this will play out. Macbeth is already thinking evil thoughts about how he is rising to become king.
1:4 Duncans Camp at Forres Characters: Duncan, Malcolm, Macbeth Action: Macbeth comes to the King s camp; Duncan thanks him, but names Malcolm his successor. Macbeth is not happy about this. Staging: same as scene two Problem or Solution: Problem Duncan names Malcolm as successor, while Macbeth thought he would be named.
1:5 Macbeths Castle at Inverness Characters: Lady Macbeth, Macbeth Action: Lady Macbeth receives Macbeth s letter she vows to get rid of Duncan, but is afraid Macbeth is not man enough. She asks the gods to make her manly enough to take over if she has to. Macbeth arrives, and they conspire. Staging: somewhere where Lady Macbeth can be alone with her thoughts a bedroom or a bathroom? Possibly a library or reading room; Lady Macbeth needs a letter for a prop Problem or Solution: Problem Lady Macbeth feels they must kill Duncan, but is Macbeth strong and courageous enough to do it, or will she have to do it herself?
1:6 - Macbeths Castle at Inverness Characters: Duncan, Banquo, Lady Macbeth Action: Duncan arrives at Macbeth s castle, he feels very comfortable there. Lady Macbeth welcomes him with open arms. Staging: Outdoors, in the open area of the castle Problem or Solution: Problem Duncan feels much too comfortable in Macbeth s castle.
1:7 - Macbeths Castle at Inverness Characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth Action: Macbeth is having second thoughts about killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth berates him and tries to give him a pep talk. Staging: in Macbeth s chamber or a library somewhere they have privacy Problem or Solution: Problem Macbeth is losing his nerve.
