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MACBETH
SETTING
Birnam Wood, Dunsinane
Birnam Wood, Dunsinane
SUMMARY
Act 5, scene 1: The doctor assesses Lady Macbeth by questioning her gentlewoman. He asks her when she sleepwalked last, and she responds that it has been happening since Macbeth went to war. She gets up, puts on her nightgown, unlocks her closet, takes out some paper, folds it, writes on it, reads it, seals it, then returns to bed. The doctor then enquires if she talks in her sleep. The answer is yes, but the gentlewoman refuses to tell him. Lady Macbeth then enters, holding a candle, and the doctor and gentlewoman observe that she is sleepwalking. They hear her say the following: she cannot get the spot out, that they shouldn’t be afraid because no one can place the blame on them, ask for the Thane of Fife’s wife, question whether her hands can ever be clean, and declare that she smells blood on her hands. The doctor states that he cannot help her because her illness is beyond his medical skills. Lady Macbeth then utters that someone should not look frightened because Banquo is buried, then she leaves. The doctor closes the act by stating that people with guilty minds will confess their secrets to their pillows while they sleep. He then instructs the gentlewoman to constantly watch Lady Macbeth and remove any items that she could use to harm herself.
Act 5, scene 2: Menteith, Angus, Caithness and Lennox talk and discover, between the four of them, a few things. They learn that the English army is near, led by Malcolm, Siward, and MacDuff, and they are out for revenge. Donalbain is not there with his brother, and Macbeth is fortifying the castle at Dunsinane with heavy defenses, and the rumour is that Macbeth is insane and out of control. They also learn, from each other, that rebel armies are attacking Macbeth and his soldiers are not loyal, but only following orders. They then confirm that they are loyal to Malcolm and they will get rid of Macbeth and make Malcolm king. They then proceed on their march to Birnam.
Act 5, scene 3: Macbeth tells his servant not to give him any more reports about deserting thanes because he refuses to be fearful. He believes that no man born of a woman can kill him, so he refuses to fear Malcolm. The servant returns, fearful, and reports that he sees ten thousand English soldiers, and Macbeth tells him to get away. He then contemplates that the battle will either secure his reign or topple him from his throne; he also contemplates how he does not have sincere people around him. Macbeth then speaks to Seyton, whom he instructs to hang anyone spreading fear; then he asks the doctor to report on his wife. The doctor tells him that she is not sick, but suffers from visions that prevent her from sleeping. The doctor says that she has to heal herself. Macbeth then asks the doctor if he can figure out what’s wrong with Scotland and what drug would purge the English from the land. Macbeth then declares that he will not be afraid of death until the Birnam forest moves to Dunsinane.
Act 5, scene 4: Malcolm tells every soldier to break off a branch from Birnam Wood and hold it in front of him to conceal the army's numbers, so that Macbeth gets an inaccurate report.
Act 5, scene 5: Macbeth is at Dunsinane and gives the order to hang the Scottish flag on the outer walls. He brags to Setton, that his army is strong and that they could have met the English in front of the castle if so many of his soldiers hadn’t revolted and joined the English. He says that he does not feel fear anymore because horrible things are familiar to him. He then learns that Lady Macbeth has died and responds with the statement that she would have died later anyway. He says that life is an illusion, full of sound and fury, but devoid of meaning. A messenger then reports to Macbeth that Birnam Wood is moving, and Macbeth sends out the word to prepare for battle.
Act 5, scene 6: Malcolm orders his army to throw down their branches and reveal themselves to the Scottish army. Siward and his son would lead the first battle, and Malcolm and MacDuff would do the rest.
Act 5, scene 7: Macbeth is in the midst of the battle, but he is fearless because every man was born of a woman. He kills young Siward. MacDuff then hunts for Macbeth because he wants to avenge his household. Old Siward then notes that they have almost won the battle because Macbeth’s soldiers are disloyal and switching sides.
Act 5, scene 8: Macbeth reluctantly fights MacDuff because he feels that he has already killed MacDuff’s family. He tells MacDuff that he cannot be killed by anyone who was born of a woman, or born naturally, but MacDuff tells Macbeth that he was cut from his mother’s womb. At this point, Macbeth becomes afraid. MacDuff tells him to surrender, but Macbeth refuses. He said that he would never surrender to Malcolm or be taunted by the common people. Even though Birnam Wood did come to Dunsinane and he is fighting a man not born of a woman (c-section), he will fight to the end. Old Siward is given the news of his son’s death, and MacDuff enters carrying Macbeth’s head. Everyone hails the new king of Scotland, Malcolm, who then states that they must call home all the exiles, bring to justice those who worked with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who is rumoured to have committed suicide. He then invites everyone to come and watch him being crowned King of Scotland.
Act 5, scene 1: The doctor assesses Lady Macbeth by questioning her gentlewoman. He asks her when she sleepwalked last, and she responds that it has been happening since Macbeth went to war. She gets up, puts on her nightgown, unlocks her closet, takes out some paper, folds it, writes on it, reads it, seals it, then returns to bed. The doctor then enquires if she talks in her sleep. The answer is yes, but the gentlewoman refuses to tell him. Lady Macbeth then enters, holding a candle, and the doctor and gentlewoman observe that she is sleepwalking. They hear her say the following: she cannot get the spot out, that they shouldn’t be afraid because no one can place the blame on them, ask for the Thane of Fife’s wife, question whether her hands can ever be clean, and declare that she smells blood on her hands. The doctor states that he cannot help her because her illness is beyond his medical skills. Lady Macbeth then utters that someone should not look frightened because Banquo is buried, then she leaves. The doctor closes the act by stating that people with guilty minds will confess their secrets to their pillows while they sleep. He then instructs the gentlewoman to constantly watch Lady Macbeth and remove any items that she could use to harm herself.
- What does Lady Macbeth do while she is sleepwalking?
- What are three (3) things that Lady Macbeth says while she is sleepwalking?
- What instructions did the doctor leave, with the gentlewoman, for Lady Macbeth’s care?
Act 5, scene 2: Menteith, Angus, Caithness and Lennox talk and discover, between the four of them, a few things. They learn that the English army is near, led by Malcolm, Siward, and MacDuff, and they are out for revenge. Donalbain is not there with his brother, and Macbeth is fortifying the castle at Dunsinane with heavy defenses, and the rumour is that Macbeth is insane and out of control. They also learn, from each other, that rebel armies are attacking Macbeth and his soldiers are not loyal, but only following orders. They then confirm that they are loyal to Malcolm and they will get rid of Macbeth and make Malcolm king. They then proceed on their march to Birnam.
- List all the things that the noblemen learn from each other.
Act 5, scene 3: Macbeth tells his servant not to give him any more reports about deserting thanes because he refuses to be fearful. He believes that no man born of a woman can kill him, so he refuses to fear Malcolm. The servant returns, fearful, and reports that he sees ten thousand English soldiers, and Macbeth tells him to get away. He then contemplates that the battle will either secure his reign or topple him from his throne; he also contemplates how he does not have sincere people around him. Macbeth then speaks to Seyton, whom he instructs to hang anyone spreading fear; then he asks the doctor to report on his wife. The doctor tells him that she is not sick, but suffers from visions that prevent her from sleeping. The doctor says that she has to heal herself. Macbeth then asks the doctor if he can figure out what’s wrong with Scotland and what drug would purge the English from the land. Macbeth then declares that he will not be afraid of death until the Birnam forest moves to Dunsinane.
- Why does Malcolm refuse to fear Malcolm?
- What are the two possible results of the war for Macbeth?
- What is the major thing that Macbeth notices about his life?
- What news did Macbeth receive about Lady Macbeth from the doctor?
- What instruction does Macbeth give Seyton?
- What is the second reason why Macbeth is not afraid of death?
Act 5, scene 4: Malcolm tells every soldier to break off a branch from Birnam Wood and hold it in front of him to conceal the army's numbers, so that Macbeth gets an inaccurate report.
- What method does Malcolm use to hide his army’s numbers?
Act 5, scene 5: Macbeth is at Dunsinane and gives the order to hang the Scottish flag on the outer walls. He brags to Setton, that his army is strong and that they could have met the English in front of the castle if so many of his soldiers hadn’t revolted and joined the English. He says that he does not feel fear anymore because horrible things are familiar to him. He then learns that Lady Macbeth has died and responds with the statement that she would have died later anyway. He says that life is an illusion, full of sound and fury, but devoid of meaning. A messenger then reports to Macbeth that Birnam Wood is moving, and Macbeth sends out the word to prepare for battle.
- Why does Macbeth not feel fear anymore?
- How does Macbeth respond to the news of Lady Macbeth’s death?
- How does Macbeth react to the news that Birnam Wood is moving?
Act 5, scene 6: Malcolm orders his army to throw down their branches and reveal themselves to the Scottish army. Siward and his son would lead the first battle, and Malcolm and MacDuff would do the rest.
- What did Malcolm order his army to do?
- Who led the first battle?
Act 5, scene 7: Macbeth is in the midst of the battle, but he is fearless because every man was born of a woman. He kills young Siward. MacDuff then hunts for Macbeth because he wants to avenge his household. Old Siward then notes that they have almost won the battle because Macbeth’s soldiers are disloyal and switching sides.
- Why is Macbeth still fearless at this point in the play?
- Who particularly hunts Macbeth? Why?
- Why is Malcolm almost winning the battle?
Act 5, scene 8: Macbeth reluctantly fights MacDuff because he feels that he has already killed MacDuff’s family. He tells MacDuff that he cannot be killed by anyone who was born of a woman, or born naturally, but MacDuff tells Macbeth that he was cut from his mother’s womb. At this point, Macbeth becomes afraid. MacDuff tells him to surrender, but Macbeth refuses. He said that he would never surrender to Malcolm or be taunted by the common people. Even though Birnam Wood did come to Dunsinane and he is fighting a man not born of a woman (c-section), he will fight to the end. Old Siward is given the news of his son’s death, and MacDuff enters carrying Macbeth’s head. Everyone hails the new king of Scotland, Malcolm, who then states that they must call home all the exiles, bring to justice those who worked with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who is rumoured to have committed suicide. He then invites everyone to come and watch him being crowned King of Scotland.
- Who killed Macbeth? Why was this person able to kill him?
- Why did Macbeth keep fighting, against all chances of success?
- Who was the next king of Scotland? What was one of the first things that he wanted to do?
CHARACTERIZATION
Macbeth
Macbeth is disillusioned by the end of the play. When he learns of Lady Macbeth’s death, his detachment is shocking, but it tells the reader that Macbeth feels empty, possibly from his bloody efforts to obtain and keep the Scottish throne, his ambition. He says that: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” (Act 5, scene 5, lines 24-28, p. 202). Macbeth believes that he is a ‘poor player’ in the game of life because he has had his ‘hour’, or time, but it’s useless because he has spent it being fooled by the witches and led by his ambition. So, to Macbeth, life is just noise that means nothing.
Macbeth is disillusioned by the end of the play. When he learns of Lady Macbeth’s death, his detachment is shocking, but it tells the reader that Macbeth feels empty, possibly from his bloody efforts to obtain and keep the Scottish throne, his ambition. He says that: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” (Act 5, scene 5, lines 24-28, p. 202). Macbeth believes that he is a ‘poor player’ in the game of life because he has had his ‘hour’, or time, but it’s useless because he has spent it being fooled by the witches and led by his ambition. So, to Macbeth, life is just noise that means nothing.
TECHNIQUE
Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony is seen when Malcolm orders his soldiers to use branches as they march through Birnam Wood to conceal the English army's true number from Macbeth. This is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the witches’ prophecies are coming true; Birnam Wood is literally walking to Dunsinane because the soldiers, with their branches, will look like a moving forest. Macbeth is unaware that the prophecy is coming true because he does not believe that a forest can walk; it is inconceivable to him. As a result of this belief, he behaves inappropriately by thinking that he is invincible.
Dramatic irony is seen when Malcolm orders his soldiers to use branches as they march through Birnam Wood to conceal the English army's true number from Macbeth. This is dramatic irony because the audience knows that the witches’ prophecies are coming true; Birnam Wood is literally walking to Dunsinane because the soldiers, with their branches, will look like a moving forest. Macbeth is unaware that the prophecy is coming true because he does not believe that a forest can walk; it is inconceivable to him. As a result of this belief, he behaves inappropriately by thinking that he is invincible.
CONFLICT
Act Five was primarily about the battle; therefore, the conflict was man versus man. In the war, the soldiers fought each other; Macbeth fought young Siward, and MacDuff fought Macbeth
Act Five was primarily about the battle; therefore, the conflict was man versus man. In the war, the soldiers fought each other; Macbeth fought young Siward, and MacDuff fought Macbeth
THEME
Guilt is a major theme in Act Five. Lady Macbeth suffers from incredible guilt about the murders that both gave, and placed her husband on the Scottish throne. We see this particularly when she states that her hands cannot get clean, “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (Act 5, scene 1, lines 36-37, p.180) and that she cannot stop smelling blood on her hands, “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!” (Act 5, scene 1, lines 42-43, p. 182). Lady Macbeth’s preoccupation with her unclean hands that smell of blood, hands that cannot get clean, is a clear indication of a guilty conscience. The fact that she is sleepwalking and essentially leaking all of her crimes while she is in that state also says that she is feeling guilty. Gomes and Nardi confirm this with the idea that “At the Tragedy of Macbeth, several of its characters suffer from sleep problems, usually associated with guilt and punishment, feelings for their sins.” (Gomes and Nardi).
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth. 2003 Spark Publishing, Canada.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/macbeth-powerpoint-80354614/80354614?nway-content_model=A
https://literarydevices.com/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563773/full
No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth. 2003 Spark Publishing, Canada.
https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/macbeth-powerpoint-80354614/80354614?nway-content_model=A
https://literarydevices.com/
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.563773/full
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Act 2
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Act 3
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Act 4
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Act 5
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