Macbeth Act 2 Summary

The play begins when Macbeth returns home after a battle for the defense of Scotland and King Duncan. On the way, he and his friend Banquo meet the three witches, and then the drama moves to a military camp, where the Scottish King Duncan hears the news that his generals, Macbeth and Banquo defeated by two separate occupying army - one from Ireland, led by rebel MacDonald and one from Norway. Participating in hot battle with the enemy forces, Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches again at the swamp. Macbeth Witches are predicted to be ruler of Cawdor and eventually king of Scotland. Also they predicted that Macbeth's friend, Banquo, would birth a line of Scottish kings, although Banquo will never be king The witches vanish, and Macbeth and Banquo

Macbeth writes to his wife, Lady Macbeth, telling her all about what happened. Lady Macbeth suffers from insecurity about her husband because she wants him to become king and wants him to kill Duncan for the throne. When Macbeth comes to the castle, Lady Macbeth persuades him to kill the king still that same night. He and Lady Macbeth plan to get to Duncan with two drunken guards in order to disguise themselves and the next morning the two of them found guilty, and they will be helpless, because they will not remember anything. While Duncan is asleep, Macbeth stabs him, despite the doubts and the number of supernatural prophecies, including a vision of a bloody dagger. When Duncan's death was discovered the next morning, Macbeth kills the guards - apparently out of anger because of their crimes and easily assumes the kingship. Duncan's sons Malcolm and Donalbain flee to England and Ireland, respectively, fearing that he killed Duncan and Macbeth wants to kill them as well. Frightened by the witches prophecies that his successor Banquov seize the throne, Macbeth hires a group of murderers to kill Banquo and his son

At the banquet that night, Macbeth arises to only see Banquo's spirit. When he saw a ghost, Macbeth freaks out of fear, and guests of the Scottish nobility were amazed. Lady Macbeth tries to reduce the tension and to cover up the crime of her husband. Frightened, Macbeth goes to find witches in their cave. They show him the order of demons and spirits that accompany the further prophecies: it must be kept from Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who opposed the accession to the throne Macbeth, although he was not able to be killed by any man that is born of woman, and he will be safe until Birnamska Woods comes to Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth feels safe because he knows that all men born of women, and that the forest can not move. When you hear that Macduff fled to England to join Malcolm, Macbeth orders that Macduff's castle is overtaken, and most cruelly as he ordered the Lady Macduff and her children were killed. When the news of the murder of his comes to Macduff in England, he swears revenge. Prince Malcolm, Duncan's son, was able to form an army in England, joined by Macduff and went to Scotland to challenge