Plot Point

Question

Rank of Events
Rank the events from the list above from most significant to least significant
Reasoning
Explain the reasoning behind your ranking in a paragraph of 5-7 complete sentences.
Rising Action
(Act 2)

• Macbeth goes through with the murder of Duncan, even though he is unsure. Act 2, Scene 1

• After the murder, Macbeth forgets to leave the daggers and, instead, carries them back to his room covered with blood. Lady Macbeth hatches a plan to frame the crime on someone else: Duncan's two guards. Act 2, Scene 1

• Duncan's dead body is discovered the morning after his murder. Macduff and Banquo feel something is wrong and have their suspicions. Act 2, Scene 1

Answer 1

Plot Point Ranking:

1. Macbeth goes through with the murder of Duncan, even though he is unsure.
2. Duncan's dead body is discovered the morning after his murder. Macduff and Banquo feel something is wrong and have their suspicions.
3. After the murder, Macbeth forgets to leave the daggers and, instead, carries them back to his room covered with blood. Lady Macbeth hatches a plan to frame the crime on someone else: Duncan's two guards.

Reasoning:

The ranking of the events hinges on their impact on the trajectory of the plot and the psychological transformation of Macbeth. First, Macbeth's decision to murder Duncan is the critical turning point in the narrative; it marks the beginning of his moral decline and sets into motion a series of destructive events. This act not only initiates his tyranny but also seals his fate as a tragic hero. Next, Duncan's dead body being discovered represents a pivotal moment of escalating tension, as it awakens suspicions among characters like Macduff and Banquo, which ultimately leads to Macbeth’s unraveling. Finally, the act of Macbeth forgetting to leave the daggers behind illustrates his psychological turmoil and guilt, though it is less significant than the murder and its immediate aftermath. While still important for character development and plot progression, this action is a consequence of the first two events and does not carry the same weight or consequence as the others. Thus, the sequence reflects both the logical progression of the narrative and the thematic exploration of ambition, guilt, and fate in "Macbeth."