Sleep Walking Scene (Macbeth),Zurich.

One of the most famous scenes of Shakespeare is the Lady Macbeth' Sleep Walking Scene in 'Macbeth'.

Macbeth - not to be missed.

A voyage through Macbeth.

* Act 1 : The Temptation.

a) Act 1 : Scene 1 - Represents parting of the witches and not their meeting. Macbeth , the hero is introduced though he is not physically present in the scene.

Keynote of the play 'Fair is foul,and foul is fair' is delivered in this scene.

b) Act 1 : Scene 2 - Gives the political setting of the Play. Scene serves as a sort of exposition.

c) Act 1 : Scene 3 - Most crucial scene in Act 1. The famous 'temptation scene'. Scene is important for the :- The characterization of the witches ; the contrasted reactions of Macbeth and Banquo towards the witches' prophecies ; imaginative and sensitive temperament of Macbeth.

d) Act 1 : Scene 4 - First meeting of Macbeth and Duncan. 

e) Act 1 : Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth appears before the audience for the first time.

f)  Act 1 : Scene 6 - Scene has been admired for : its singularly reposeful character ; its sustained irony.

g) Act 1 : Scene 7 - Moral guilt and imagination of Macbeth ; Planning of Duncan' murder.

* Act 2 : The Murder of Duncan.

a) Act 2 : Scene 1 - Macbeth sights a visionary dagger ; he goes  to commit the murder.

b) Act 2 : Scene 2 - Macbeth does the 'deed'.

c) Act 2 : Scene 3 - Porter Scene.

d) Act 2 : Scene 4 - Meant for giving a pause ; the King's sons have fled away.

* Act 3 : The Murder of Banquo.

a) Act 3 : Scene 1 - Macbeth wears the crown now ; Macbeth doubts Banquo's existence harmful to him. So he hires murderers to kill Banquo.

b) Act 3 : Scene 2 - Reveals that a gulf is created between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

c) Act 3 : Scene 3 - Banquo is murdered and Fleance escapes ; marks the downfall of Macbeth's fortunes.

d) Act 3 : Scene 4 - Banquet Scene. Macbeth's overheated imagination makes his see Banquo's ghost.

e) Act 3 : Scene 5 - Introduces Hecate ; Scene is debated as unShakespearean ; prepares us for Macbeth's second meeting with the witches.

f) Act 3 : Scene 6 - Mentioning of 'Edward the Confessor' ; no other major importance.

* Act 4 :The Family of Macduff.

a) Act 4 : Scene 1 - Cauldron Scene ; preserves our interest in the dull Act 4. Macbeth meets the three witches ; appearance of the three apparitions.

b) Act 4 : Scene 2 - Introduces Lady Macduff and her son ; murder of Macduff' wife and son.

c) Act 4 : Scene 3 - Just a pause scene ; Malcolm says to Macduff that the English King has agreed to lend armies for the liberation of Scotland ; joining of an English doctor Malcolm and Macduff ; Ross informs Macduff about the murder of his family.

* Act 5 - The Catastrophe.

a) Act 5 : Scene 1 - Sleepwalking scene.

b) Act 5 : Scene 2 - Liberation army from England is approaching Scotland ; thanes march to Birnam wood to join with the invaders.

c) Act 5 : Scene 3 - Indicates the state of mind of Macbeth ; he is afraid of being afraid.

d) Act 5 : Scene 4 - Prepares us for the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Birnam wood ; the Army march to Dunsinane under the cover of branches cut down in Birnam wood.

e) Act 5 : Scene 5 - at Dunsinane ; Macbeth receives the news of the demise of his wife ; we witness philosopher in Macbeth ; Macbeth rushes out to meet the enemy.

f) Act 5 : Scene 6  - Short scene sounding for the battle ; trumpets call up on the castle to surrender.

g) Act 5 : Scene 7 - Macbeth is surrounded on all sides ; Macbeth defeats young Siward ; when he withdraws,Macduff enters in search of him.

h) Act 5 : Scene 8 - ; Macbeth and Macduff come face to face ; Macbeth is shocked to hear that Macduff was 'untimely ripped' from his mother' womb ; Macbeth is killed ; Macduff declares that 'the time is free' ; Malcolm is acclaimed king.

Facts of Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

* Full Title - The tragedy of Macbeth.



* Author - William Shakespeare.


* Type of work - Play.


* Genre - Tragedy.



* Language - English.


* Time and place of writing - 1606,England.


* Date of first publication - First Folio edition,1623.

* Publisher- John Heminges & Henry Condell , two senior members of Shakespeare's theatrical company.

* Tone - ominous,dark ; suggestive of a world turned topsy-turvy by foul and treacherous crimes.



* Setting (time & place) - The middle ages (11th century) ; mostly Scotland and briefly England.

* Protagonist - Macbeth.

* Major Themes - Corrupting nature of unchecked ambition ; difference between cruelty and tyranny.

* Motifs - Supernatural spirits ; violence ; prophecy ; hallucinations.

* Symbols - Blood ; atmosphere (weather).

* Keynote - 'Fair is foul , and foul is fair'.

* Major conflicts - the struggle inside Macbeth between his ambition and his sense of right and wrong ; the struggle between murderous evil and the best interests of a nation. The former suggests Macbeth and Lady Macbeth & the latter represents Malcolm and Macduff.

* Rising Action - Banquo's and Macbeth's meeting with the weird sisters initiates both conflicts. ; Lady Macbeth's speeches goad Macbeth and made him to murder Duncan and seize the crown.

* Falling Action - Series of brutal murders by Macbeth ( Duncan , Banquo , Lady Macduff and her son ) ; Macbeth's second meeting with the witches ; Macbeth's final confrontation with Macduff and the opposing armies.

* Climax - The end of Macbeth's kingship in the expense of his life.