Duncan's sons think they may be the next target, and flee. Macbeth murders the guardsmen of Duncan's room to keep them silent, but says he did it out of a furious rage that they killed the king. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pretend to be shocked and outraged. The next morning, Macduff, another Scottish thane, discovers Duncan dead and raises the alarm. That night they murder Duncan and frame the men guarding Duncan's room. Macbeth at first resists his wife's plan, but his ambition and her constant questioning of his courage and manhood win him over. She decides her husband is too kind to follow his ambitions, and vows to push him to murder Duncan and take the crown that very night. Lady Macbeth receives a letter from her husband about the prophecy and Duncan's imminent arrival. As Macbeth begins to succumb to his ambition, Duncan decides to spend the night in celebration at Macbeth's castle of Inverness. Later that day, Duncan announces that his eldest son, Malcolm, will be heir to his throne.

Macbeth immediately fantasizes about murdering Duncan and becoming king, but pushes the thought away. The men don't at first believe the witches, but then learn that the old Thane of Cawdor was actually a traitor helping the Norwegians, and that Duncan has rewarded Macbeth's bravery on the battlefield by making him Thane of Cawdor.

They further prophesy that Banquo's descendants will be kings. After the battle, Macbeth and his friend Banquo come upon the weird sisters, three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor, and one day King. One Scotsman in particular, Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, distinguishes himself in fighting off the invaders. The Scots successfully defend their country and their beloved king, Duncan. Norwegians, aided by Scottish rebels, have invaded Scotland.

William shakespeare and macbeth