The Scottish knight Macbeth, who has won many victories for King Duncan, receives a prophecy from three witches: he is destined to become king of Scotland. Believing the prophecy, Macbeth—incited by his ambitious wife—takes its fulfillment into his own hands. He kills Duncan and accuses his heirs, the young princes, who are forced to flee the country.
Thus, Macbeth truly becomes king, destroying his soul in the process. But the usurper’s throne is shaky, and the rightful heirs are already preparing a rebellion…
The tragedy is partly based on the real biography of Scotland’s King Macbeth, although it attributes to him villainies and conspiracies with evil forces that the real Macbeth was never known to have been involved in.