Macbeth is William Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy and is about a fictional Scottish regicide, as well as themes of ambition, regret and guilt. According to some, the play celebrates the Stuart accession to the throne, and it was probably composed in honor of King James I. First published around 1605, this play has a relatively small main cast, composed of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Duncan, Macduff, Banquo and Malcolm.

This tragedy starts with a stormy scene of three witches deciding to meet Macbeth, the Thane of Glamis and a military hero in the war against Norway. The witches hail Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and declare that he will one day be king. Banquo challenges the witches, who inform him that while his descendants will be kings, he himself will never be king. Shortly after this scene, a messenger from the king bestows the title of Thane of Cawdor on Macbeth, who immediately begins to consider ambitions of becoming king himself.

The plot to kill the current king, Duncan, is formulated both by Macbeth and by his wife. When Macbeth becomes concerned about comitting regicide, it is his wife who persuades him to go on, challenging his masculinity and bravery. Macbeth waits until the king visits, stabbing him in his sleep. He and Lady Macbeth frame Duncan’s servants for the murder, and Duncan’s sons flee to England and Ireland, fearing for their lives as well. Since the two have left the country, they are considered suspects in their father’s death, allowing Macbeth to assume the throne of Scotland.

Before a royal banquet, Macbeth arranges to kill Banquo and his young son, but succeeds only in killing the father. Banquo’s ghost appears at the banquet and sits in Macbeth’s chair, but only Macbeth can see him. To everyone else, it looks as thought the king has gone insane. Macbeth is disturbed by the visitation and visits the three witches, who prophesy warnings against Macduff, declare that no one of woman born shall harm Macbeth and declare that he will never be vanquished until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane. Macbeth finds out that Macduff has been exiled to England and believes himself safe, putting to death everyone in Macduff’s castle.

Meanwhile, guilt begins to afflict Lady Macbeth, who feels responsible for her husband’s crimes. She walks in her sleep and tries to wash invisible blood off of her hands. This is one of the most famous scenes from this tragedy. At some point, Lady Macbeth dies offscreen, possibly from suicide, though this is not explicitly stated in the play.

Messengers come to Macduff in England to tell him that the tyrant Macbeth has killed his family. Macduff and Malcom lead an army against Macbeth in Dunsinane castle, carrying limbs cut from the trees in Birnam Wood to disguise the soldiers until the reach the castle. Macbeth receives word of his wife’s death, delivering a famous soliloquy about death and grief (“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow…”)

When Macduff confronts Macbeth, the king declares that he has nothing to fear from any man of woman born. Macduff reveals that he was born prematurely by Caesarean section, fulfilling the witches’ second prophecy. Macduff beheads Macbeth, fulfilling the first prophecy.

Shakespeare borrowed this story from several apocryphal histories in Holinshed’s Chronicles, changing the story as required. For instance, no other version of the story involves the violation of hospitality created by killing a guest. Banquo is also painted as a more sympathetic figure than most histories suggested. Over the years, the play has become associated with supernatural happenings, and many actors consider it bad luck to mention it by name inside a theater.