Macbeth is introduced to us as a war hero but his fate takes another path when he meets three witches who tell him he is destined to become King. Lady Macbeth, his wife, hears of this and decides to accelerate events by plotting to kill the King in their own castle! The dead King's sons Malcolm and Donaldbain flee to England and Ireland respectively as the guilt of murder is put upon them.
Macbeth is crowned King but being mindful of the witches' other prophecy - that the descendants of his friend Banquo will also be king - he orders that Banquo be 'dispatched' as well. This attempt falls foul - although Banquo is savagely killed, his son Fleance escapes.
Macbeth has a second consultant with the weird sisters who warn him to fear Macduff, the Thane of Fife, but that no name of woman born can harm him and that he will be safe until Birman Wood moves to Dubsinane Hill, which is where Macbeth's own castle stands. Macbeth relaxes and now believes he is invincible and that he has achieved an almost immortal status. But despite these feelings he orders Macduff's family to be slaughtered. Macduff joins Malcolm, who is leading an army against Macbeth in England. Meanwhile, back at the castle, Lady Macbeth goes mad and dies. Macduff's army returns to Scotland and hides behind branches cut down from the wood of Birman to disguise their numbers. There is a final showdown between Macbeth and Macduff, and Macbeth is finally slain, realizing that the witches had given him false hope all along. Macduff was 'born of woman' but not naturally, it being a caesarean birth.
Malcolm is crowned the rightful heir to the throne and peace is restored once again to the Scottish shores.
