On a barren Scottish heath, three witches await the coming of Macbeth and Banquo, generals returning victorious from battle. Nearby, Scotland’s King Duncan hears of Macbeth’s great courage in the conflict and determines to honour his trusted friend and kinsman.

When Macbeth and Banquo come upon the witches, the three pronounce Macbeth, now Thane of Glamis, also to be Thane of Cawdor and that he is to become king; Banquo shall be father to kings, though not be one himself. The Thane of Ross arrives from Duncan, addressing Macbeth as Cawdor. The first of the prophecies has come true, leaving Macbeth to ponder his possible kingship.

Upon their arrival at Duncan’s camp, the king formally pronounces his eldest son Malcolm to be heir to his throne.

In Macbeth’s castle of Dunsinane, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband telling of his encounter with the witches. News then arrives that Duncan and his sons will visit her castle that night. Calling upon the powers of darkness, she sets her sights on setting her husband on the throne.

That evening, she drugs the king’s servants, allowing Macbeth to enter Duncan’s bedroom undeterred and to stab him as he sleeps. When first suspicions fall upon the king’s two sons, they flee the country. Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland.

Haunted by the prediction that Banquo’s heirs, and not his own, will inherit the throne, Macbeth has Banquo and his son, Fleance, ambushed; Banquo is murdered, but Fleance escapes.

At a great dinner, Macbeth prepares to sit with his courtiers when the ghost of Banquo--seen only to him--prevents him. Fearing his apparent madness will cause suspicion now to fall on them, Lady Macbeth hastily sends the guests from the room.

Macbeth seeks out the witches, who again make three pronouncements: that no man born of woman can kill him, that he cannot be defeated until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane, and to beware Macduff. Hearing that Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth orders the murder of Lady Macduff and her children.

Lady Macbeth, now overwrought with remorse and guilt, has begun to sleepwalk each night, playing out the murder in her mind.

Macduff joins forces with Malcolm and his English army, and returns to Scotland. Their soldiers cut branches from the trees of Birnam Wood to cover their advance upon Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth, greeted by news of his wife’s death, cannot take time to mourn. His only consolation is the knowledge that he will not die by the hand of any man born of woman. But, as Dunsinane is attacked and Macduff confronts him, he learns his opponent was prematurely ripped from his mother’s womb. In their final conflict, Macbeth is cut down, his head cut off, and Malcolm crowned King of Scotland.