Which event in Macbeth happens first?
A. Macbeth becomes king after Duncan is killed.
B. The witches show Macbeth several apparitions.
C. Macbeth learns that Macduff was not “born of woman.”
D. Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and Fleance.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Macbeth becomes king after Duncan is killed.
Explanation:
In Macbeth, the sequence of events unfolds in a way that builds the tragic downfall of the protagonist. Let’s break down the events in the options to see why A happens first:
- A. Macbeth becomes king after Duncan is killed.
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a loyal servant in King Duncan’s army. After Macbeth receives a prophecy from the three witches that he will become the king of Scotland, he becomes tempted to fulfill this prophecy by murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth persuades him to commit the murder, and Macbeth eventually kills Duncan while he is staying at Macbeth’s castle. After Duncan’s death, Macbeth takes the throne, as Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, flee Scotland in fear. This event is the first major turning point in the play. - B. The witches show Macbeth several apparitions.
After Macbeth becomes king, he seeks out the witches again for more information about his future. They show him a series of apparitions that provide cryptic predictions about his reign. These apparitions are shown to him later in the play, after Macbeth has already murdered Duncan and is established as the king. Therefore, this event happens after A. - C. Macbeth learns that Macduff was not “born of woman.”
This is a key moment later in the play when Macbeth, in a state of growing paranoia, learns that Macduff, the man who is set to destroy him, was born through a Caesarean section, not “born of woman” in the traditional way. This moment occurs much later in the play, after Macbeth has already committed several murders, including those of Duncan and Banquo. - D. Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and Fleance.
After becoming king, Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid about his rule and the witches’ prophecy, which states that Banquo’s descendants will become kings. He orders the murder of Banquo and his son Fleance. However, this happens after Macbeth has already killed Duncan and assumed the throne, making this event occur after A as well.
Thus, the first event that occurs in the play is A, when Macbeth becomes king after the murder of Duncan.