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Moment #1: The Weird Sisters tell Macbeth his  prophecy

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Moment #1: The Weird Sisters tell Macbeth his  prophecy

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MACBETH

Speak, if you can: what are you?

First Witch

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch

All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter! (Act I, Scene ii)

This is a significant moment in the text because it establishes the entire plot. If the witches had not informed Macbeth he would one day be king, he would not have become ambitious and begun killing people. Instead, things would have occurred naturally and there would be no tragic tale.

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Moment #2: Lady Macbeth reveals her ambitions

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Moment #2: Lady Macbeth reveals her ambitions

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LADY MACBETH

The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements. Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood; Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between The effect and it! (Act I, scene v)

This is a significant moment in the text because it is the first to truly establish Lady Macbeth's character and reveal her cruel intentions for Duncan. Through this, the audience learns that she is the driving force behind all of Macbeth's actions.

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Moment #3: Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep

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Moment #3: Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep

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LADY MACBETH

Alack, I am afraid they have awaked,
And 'tis not done. The attempt and not the deed
Confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready;
He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled
My father as he slept, I had done't.Enter MACBETHMy husband!

MACBETH

I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?

LADY MACBETH

I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did not you speak? (Act II, scene ii)

This is a significant moment in the text because it depicts the beginning of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's downfalls, and of the action-packed plot. Due to the fact that they carried out this first murder, they would have to commit many more, which would lead to extreme guilt and their eventual suicide and defeat.

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Moment #4: Banquo is murdered by Macbeth's thugs

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Moment #4: Banquo is murdered by Macbeth's thugs

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Second Murderer

A light, a light! Enter BANQUO, and FLEANCE with a torch

Third Murderer

'Tis he.

First Murderer

Stand to't.

BANQUO

It will be rain to-night.

First Murderer

Let it come down.They set upon BANQUO

BANQUO

O, treachery! Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!
Thou mayst revenge. O slave!Dies. FLEANCE escapes (Act III, scene iii)

This is a significant moment in the text because it represents how far Macbeth has fallen in order to prove the aforementioned prophecy wrong. He was viewed as a brave and honorable man at the beginning of the play, and can now be called truly evil due to the murder of his once dear friend.

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Moment #5: Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo

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Moment #5: Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo

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MACBETH

Here had we now our country's honour roof'd,
Were the graced person of our Banquo present;
Who may I rather challenge for unkindness
Than pity for mischance!

ROSS

His absence, sir,
Lays blame upon his promise. Please't your highness
To grace us with your royal company.

MACBETH

The table's full.

LENNOX

Here is a place reserved, sir.

MACBETH

Where? (Act III, scene iv)

This is a significant moment in the text because it presents Macbeth's extreme guilt to the audience. He is the only one who sees the ghost of Banquo, and this tells us that the murder of his friend is affecting him mentally.

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Moment #6: Macbeth speaks with the three apparitions

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Moment #6: Macbeth speaks with the three apparitions

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First Witch

He will not be commanded: here's another,
More potent than the first.Thunder. Second Apparition: A bloody Child

Second Apparition

Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth!

MACBETH

Had I three ears, I'ld hear thee.

Second Apparition

Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth. Descends (ACT IV, scene i)

This is a significant event in the text because it contributes greatly to Macbeth's downfall at the end of the show. Hecate, angered by the Weird Sisters' actions, sends out the apparitions in order to make Macbeth feel secure in his actions. This eventually makes Macduff able to kill him.

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Moment #7: Macduff's family is murdered 

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Moment #7: Macduff's family is murdered 

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First Murderer

Where is your husband?

LADY MACDUFF

I hope, in no place so unsanctified
Where such as thou mayst find him.

First Murderer

He's a traitor.

Son

Thou liest, thou shag-hair'd villain!

First Murderer

What, you egg! Young fry of treachery!

Son

He has kill'd me, mother:
Run away, I pray you! Dies (Act IV, scene iii)

This is significant event in the text because it was the last cruel act of Macbeth before his enemies decide he must die. The murder of his son and wife anger Macduff greatly, and lead directly to him choosing to fight and kill Macbeth.

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MACDUFF

Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands
The usurper's cursed head: the time is free:
I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,
That speak my salutation in their minds;
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:
Hail, King of Scotland!

ALL

Hail, King of Scotland! Flourish (Act V, scene viii)

This is a significant event in the text because it is a very tragic ending, true to Shakespeare's style and genre. It is a definitive ending that caused the end of Macbeth's tyranny and the evil acts he was committing in the process.

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1) Visions and Hallucinations: Represent Macbeth’s guilt and internal conflict, as these cause him to go quite literally insane and see things, such as the floating dagger, apparitions, ghost of Banquo. Other characters do not have this guilty conscience, and as a result are unable to see the things he does throughout the play.
2) Blood: Symbolizes guilt, especially in Lady Macbeth, as she speaks often of the “stain of blood,” and how it is impossible to undo what has been done. Both her and Macbeth’s hands are dirty with Duncan’s blood, as they both wanted him dead.
3) Sleep: Symbolizes peace, innocence, and honesty. Duncan is sleeping as he is murdered, and is peaceful, allowing Macbeth to kill him. Lady Macbeth is completely honest as she sleepwalks, unknowingly telling the doctor and gentlewoman that she and Macbeth had killed Duncan and she is feeling extremely guilty about it.

4)“Fair is Foul:” Very prevalent motif throughout, represents a universal message displayed through the play. Means that people are likely to commit evil acts due to ambition and in order to accomplish their goals; Macbeth and his wife committing murders in order to procure his rightful position as King of Scotland.

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High ambition without moral constraints can lead to great destruction and suffering.

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1) Macbeth: Main character who drives plot, presents and makes theme known, shows great change in character and has eventual downfall that contributes to true tragic ending to the play.
2) Lady Macbeth: Drives Macbeth to commit first murder, which leads to his overpowering guilt and eventual downfall, drives much of plot, and depicts themes of guilt vs. innocence evident in her sleep walking, eventual suicide
3) Macduff: Macbeth's foil, character who eventually kills him due to the murder of his family. Shows great character development throughout.
4) Banquo: Is Macbeth’s foil for much of plot, and represents everything the man had strayed from (bravery, heroism, honesty) until he is killed due to his unmistakable place within the witches’ prophecy. Macbeth is threatened because they prophesied that his line of children will ultimately take the throne after his rule.

5) The Weird Sisters/Hecate: Set the precedent for the entire plot by telling Macbeth his prophecy and causing him to feel secure in his ability to kill all who stood in his way without consequence. Without these minor characters their would have been no conflict at all, as Macbeth would have instead become king naturally.

6) Duncan: Represents the first step in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s downfalls, as he is the first person they must murder in order to procure his position as king. This leads to the woman’s extreme guilt and eventual suicide, and her husband’s gradual decline in his mental health, which causes him to kill others as a result.