1. Macbeth Encounters the Witches:
- Macbeth meets the three witches once again. They reveal two prophecies to him:
a. He cannot be defeated by any man born of woman.
b. He will not be vanquished until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane.
2. Macbeth's False Sense of Security:
- Macbeth gains a sense of false security from the witches' prophecies. Believing he is invulnerable, he becomes even more ruthless and determined to maintain his power.
3. The Assassination of Banquo:
- Macbeth fears that Banquo, the only person he believes could challenge him, might fulfill the witches' prophecy about Birnam Wood. He decides to have Banquo and his son, Fleance, killed.
4. Banquo's Ghost Haunts Macbeth:
- Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, host a grand banquet. During the feast, Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth and sits in his chair. Only Macbeth can see the ghost, and his guests witness his agitated behavior.
5. Macbeth's Descent into Madness:
- The appearance of Banquo's ghost plunges Macbeth into madness and guilt. He experiences paranoid delusions and becomes increasingly isolated and unstable.
6. The News of Macduff's Escape:
- Macbeth learns that his loyal subject, Macduff, has fled to England to join forces with King Edward's army. Realizing that the prophecy about Birnam Wood is coming true, Macbeth's sense of security crumbles.
The ambush itself does not occur in this scene. It takes place later in the play when Macduff leads the English forces against Macbeth's army.