Macbeth: Study Guide

Shakespeare’s play about a Scottish nobleman and his wife who murder their king for his throne charts the extremes of ambition and guilt. First staged in 1606, Macbeth’s three witches and other dark imagery have entered our collective imagination. Read a character analysis of Macbeth, plot summary, and important quotes.

Summary

Read a Plot Overview of the entire play or a scene by scene Summary and Analysis.

Plot Overview
Video Plot Summary
Key Questions and Answers
What Does the Ending Mean?

Summary & Analysis
Act 1, scenes 1–4
Act 1, scenes 5–7
Act 2, scenes 1–2
Act 2, scenes 3–4
Act 3, scenes 1–3
Act 3, scenes 4–6
Act 4, scenes 1–3
Act 5, scenes 1–11

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Macbeth and in-depth analyses of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, The Three Witches, Banquo, and Macduff.

Character List
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
The Three Witches
Banquo
Macduff

Main Ideas

Here's where you'll find analysis about the play as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.

Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Is Lady Macbeth a Villain or a Victim?

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the play by reading these key quotes.

Important Quotations Explained

Quotes by Theme
Ambition
Guilt
Children
Patriotism

Quotes by Section
Act 1, Scenes 1-4
Act 1, Scenes 5-7
Act 2, Scenes 1-2
Act 2, Scenes 3-4
Act 3, Scenes 1-3
Act 3, Scenes 4-6
Act 4, Scenes 1-3
Act 5, Scenes 1-11

Quotes by Character
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
The Three Witches
Banquo
Macduff

Quotes by Symbol
Blood
Weather

Further Study

Test your knowledge of Macbeth with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on the context and background and links to the best resources around the web.