Macbeth: Act V
Mrs. Wiley- English IV
Summary:
A lady-in-waiting and a doctor discuss Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking. As they are
speaking, Lady Macbeth enters, walking in her sleep. She rubs her hands repeatedly to
rid them of the blood that she imagines stains them. From Lady Macbeth’s words, the
onlookers infer that she and Macbeth murdered Duncan, but the doctor is afraid to
speak of his suspicions.
In the country near Dunsinane, the Scottish lords prepare to join forces with an
approaching English Army to fight against Macbeth. The lords discuss their plans and
Macbeth’s reported state of mind.
Because of the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth feels confident that he is invincible
inside his castle. A servant brings news about the approaching army.
Malcolm orders the soldiers gathered near Birnam Wood to camouflage
themselves with branches as they advance toward Macbeth’s castle.
In his castle, Macbeth awaits the approaching army. An offstage cry is heard, and
Seyton enters with news that Lady Macbeth is dead. Depressed by the news, Macbeth
delivers his famous “Tomorrow” soliloquy, declaring that life “is a tale told by an idiot,
full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” When a messenger brings news that Birnam
Wood is approaching the castle, Macbeth realizes that witches have tricked him and he
is most likely going to be defeated.
Upon reaching the front of Macbeth’s castle, Malcolm orders his troops to throw
down their camouflage and attack. Siward and his son are to lead with Malcolm and
Macduff in reserve.
On the field, Macbeth kills Young Siward. Macbeth exits with Macduff in hot
pursuit. Old Siward informs Malcolm that Macbeth’s castle has fallen, barely defended
by its subjects, who don’t seem to care whether they win or lose.
Macduff confronts Macbeth, who at first refuses to fight him, warning Macduff
that no one born of a woman can harm him. Macduff explains that he was not born of
woman but by caesarean section. Macbeth again refuses to fight, but Macduff goads
him by vowing to place him in a cage and display him as a fallen tyrant. Their fight
begins and continues offstage, Ross reports to Siward that Young Siward died bravely.
Macduff returns with the head of Macbeth and proclaims Malcolm king of Scotland.
Malcolm promises to restore peace and order to the land.
Scene I:
1. Refer to lines 8-9. Why does the doctor call Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking “a perturbation of
nature?”
Sleepwalking is unnatural.
2. Refer to lines 16-17. What does Lady Macbeth’s disturbed sleep represent?
Guilty conscience; Macbeth murdered sleep.
3. How are Lady Macbeth’s assumptions about cleaning up the murder in Act II discredited
here?
She said that it would be easy to clean the blood off, but she wasn’t thinking about the
psychological effects of committing the murders.
4. Refer to lines 31-39. Lady Macbeth is “losing her cool.” To which events does she refer?
“old man”- Duncan; “the Thane of Fife had a wife…”- Macduff’s family
5. Refer to lines 63-64.
A. What does the doctor mean when he refers to “infected minds?”
B. Why do these “infected minds” eventually “discharge their secrets?”
A- guilty consciences
B- The guilty must all confess eventually, otherwise, they go crazy.
Scene II
6. Refer to lines 13-14. What do you think of Macbeth- is he pure evil or valiant fury?
Opinion- answers will vary
Scene III
7. Refer to lines 1-10. Macbeth refers to two of the three prophecies, but forgets the third.
Which does he forget?
“Beware Macduff”
8. Refer to lines 47-55.
A. To what disease is Macbeth referring?
B. What is ironic about his metaphor?
A- the rebellion
B- HE is really the sickness
Scene IV
9. Refer to lines 4-7. As the camouflaged forces move on Dunsinane, how will they look to an
observer on the battlements of the castle?
Like Birnam Wood is moving toward Dunsinane
Scene V:
10. Refer to lines 1-7. What is Macbeth’s strategy?
He has faith in the witches and will wait it out. (He damned those that trust him earlier.)
11. Refer to lines 9-14. What food imagery does Macbeth use in this passage?
“taste of fears” and “supped full with horrors”
12. Refer to lines 17-18. In this line, Macbeth is responding to the death of his wife. He says,
basically, that like all humans, she would have died eventually. Also, right now, he doesn’t have
time to worry about her death. What does he mean? Why?
Opinion
13. Refer to lines 19-22. How does Macbeth feel about his life as king now?
He realizes the potential of his ambition and insignificance of his struggles
14. Refer to lines 24-28.
A. What metaphors does Macbeth use for life?
B. To which major theme of the play do these images relate?
A- “a walking shadow” “a poor player” “a tale told by an idiot”
B- False appearances
15. Refer to lines 38-52. What admirable quality does Macbeth display here?
Courage- he knows that he is doomed, yet he still plans to fight
Scene VI:
**NO QUESTIONS.
Scene VII:
16. Refer to lines 1-3. In the bloody sport of bear-baiting, the bear fights, although he has
no chance. What does Macbeth’s use of this imagery reveal about his state of mind?
He feels trapped…
17. Refer to lines 11-13. Why does Macbeth still believe that no man born of woman can
harm him—especially after seeing how the first prophecy came true?
He is so desperate that he clings to false hope.
18. Refer to lines 14-23. How does Macduff’s motivation to fight contrast with Macbeth’s?
Macduff wants to avenge the deaths of his family and kill Macbeth; Macbeth kills for selfishness
and ambition.
Scene VIII
19. Refer to lines 1-3. What is Macbeth saying that he will never do?
Commit suicide
20. Refer to lines 4-6. Explain what Macbeth is saying here.
He feels guilty about murdering Macduff’s family.
21. Refer to lines 33-34. Here, Shakespeare is trying to arouse pity for Macbeth. How does
he do this?
By showing that he is still courageous although he knows he is doomed
22. Refer to the side note, Enter Macduff, with Macbeth’s head. How is this is a significant
end for the play?
In the beginning, the murder of a king started all the trouble. Now, the murder of a king ends all
the trouble.