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Plot summary - OCRDetailed plot summary - consequences

Macbeth by William Shakespeare tells the story of one man's violent rise to a position of power as king of his country and of his even more violent downfall.

Part of English LiteratureMacbeth

Detailed plot summary - consequences

Consequences

Lady Macbeth's madness
Figure caption,
Lady Macbeth's madness

Ever since Duncan's death, Lady Macbeth's conscience has been troubling her. She has taken to sleepwalking and tries to wash her hands clean of imaginary blood. She eventually dies; it is suggested by Malcolm later that she kills herself, but Macbeth seems almost too preoccupied to notice.

Macbeth goes into battle against Macduff
Figure caption,
Macbeth goes into battle against Macduff

Malcolm and Macduff's invasion begins; Macbeth still thinks he is protected by the Witches' predictions but he is wrong. When the invading army cut down the trees in Birnam Wood to use as camouflage, as they move to Macbeth's castle in Dunsinane, it seems as though the trees themselves are moving.

Macduff comes face-to-face with Macbeth in battle. Macbeth boasts that Macduff cannot harm him but Macduff declares that he was not born naturally (but by ). The two men fight and Macduff kills and then beheads Macbeth. Malcolm is declared the new king of Scotland.