The play begins on a stormy Scottish heath, where three witches gather amid thunder and lightning. They speak in cryptic riddles and plan to meet with Macbeth, a noble Scottish general. Meanwhile, King Duncan of Scotland receives reports of Macbeth’s bravery and skill in battle, having just led his army to victory against rebels and invading Norwegians. As a reward, Duncan bestows upon Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor, a title previously held by a traitor.

As Macbeth and his friend Banquo return from battle, they encounter the three witches, who greet Macbeth with three titles: Thane of Glamis (his current title), Thane of Cawdor (a title he has yet to learn he has received), and “King hereafter.” They also prophesy that Banquo’s descendants will be kings, though Banquo himself will not. Macbeth is bewildered by the witches’ words, but when news arrives confirming that he has been made Thane of Cawdor, he begins to wonder if the final part of the prophecy—becoming king—might also come true.

Macbeth writes to his wife, Lady Macbeth, informing her of the witches’ prophecy. Lady Macbeth, a deeply ambitious and manipulative woman, immediately sees an opportunity for power. She resolves that Macbeth must kill King Duncan to seize the throne. When Macbeth hesitates, Lady Macbeth taunts his masculinity and ambition, convincing him to commit regicide. That night, Macbeth murders Duncan in his sleep and frames Duncan’s guards by smearing them with blood. Overcome with guilt, Macbeth is horrified by what he has done, but Lady Macbeth remains steadfast and dismisses his fears.

The next morning, Macduff, a Scottish nobleman, discovers Duncan’s body. Panic spreads, and Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee Scotland, fearing for their lives. With Duncan’s heirs gone, Macbeth is crowned king. However, Macbeth is plagued by paranoia and begins to see Banquo as a threat due to the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s descendants will inherit the throne. Macbeth orders Banquo and his son, Fleance, to be murdered, but while Banquo is killed, Fleance escapes into the night.

At a feast, Macbeth is haunted by Banquo’s ghost, visible only to him. His erratic behavior alarms the nobles, and whispers of suspicion begin to circulate. Seeking more guidance, Macbeth visits the witches again, demanding answers. They give him three new prophecies: beware Macduff, no man born of a woman shall harm him, and he will be safe until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. These predictions embolden Macbeth, who believes himself invincible. He orders the massacre of Macduff’s family, an act of cruelty that seals his tyrannical rule.

Meanwhile, Macduff, now in England, joins forces with Malcolm to overthrow Macbeth. News spreads that Malcolm’s army is gathering, and Macbeth’s enemies grow in number. As Macbeth prepares for battle, Lady Macbeth’s mind begins to unravel. Wracked with guilt, she sleepwalks through the castle, obsessively trying to wash imagined bloodstains from her hands. Eventually, she succumbs to madness and dies, possibly by suicide.

Macbeth, now isolated and filled with despair, clings to the witches’ prophecies. However, his confidence is shattered when Malcolm’s army disguises themselves with branches from Birnam Wood, making it appear as if the forest is moving—fulfilling one of the witches’ warnings. In the final confrontation, Macbeth faces Macduff, who reveals that he was not “born of a woman” in the usual sense but was delivered by a cesarean section. Realizing the prophecy’s grim truth, Macbeth fights to the death and is slain by Macduff.

With Macbeth dead, Malcolm is proclaimed king, bringing a sense of order and justice back to Scotland. The play closes with Malcolm’s promise to restore peace, but the haunting consequences of ambition and tyranny linger long after Macbeth’s downfall.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth remains a powerful exploration of human nature, illustrating how unchecked ambition and moral corruption lead to inevitable ruin. Its psychological depth, haunting imagery, and tragic intensity make it one of literature’s most enduring works.