Rank of Events
- Macbeth goes through with the murder of Duncan, even though he is unsure. 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
- 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
- Macbeth sends men to kill the wife and son of Macduff in order to prevent any threats to his crown. Act 4, Scene 2
- Macduff and Malcolm, King Duncan's son, come up with a plan to defeat Macbeth and give the throne to Malcolm. Act 4, Scene 3
- The three strange sisters show Macbeth three apparitions, or ghosts, who should serve as warning signs. Act 4, Scene 1
Reasoning
The most significant event is Macbeth's decision to murder Duncan, as this act marks the turning point that drives the entire plot of the play and sets Macbeth on his path of ambition and moral decay. Immediately following this act, Duncan’s body is discovered, which heightens the tension and suspicion among the characters, thus solidifying that Macbeth is deeply enmeshed in his treachery. While Lady Macbeth's plan to frame the guards is pivotal, it stems from the previous events, making her action less significant on its own merit. The subsequent events in Acts 4 highlight Macbeth's increasing paranoia and desperate attempts to secure his power, with the murder of Macduff’s family showcasing his moral decline and brutality. The planning between Macduff and Malcolm indicates a shift towards resistance against tyranny but is ultimately a response to Macbeth's violent actions, rendering it slightly less significant than the earlier turning points. Finally, the apparitions symbolize Macbeth's downfall, offering warnings that he disregards, but they occur later and merely reinforce the consequences of his earlier decisions, thus ranking last.
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