Scene i: The doctor has been called in, because Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking. She then enters, asleep, but speaking – trying to wash the imaginary blood off her hands. Her ramblings indicate the depth of her guilt in the murders to the doctor – and how much they bother her soul.
Scene ii: Out in the countryside, many soldiers have gathered to attack Macbeth – they are all going to meet at
Birnam Wood – the rumor is that Macbeth has fortified the castle and has gone mad. Many are deserting him.
Scene iii: Macbeth gets the news that soldiers are gathering against him. But he assures himself that until
Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane he will be safe. The doctor comes in and informs him of his wife’s ailments. Macbeth tells the doctor to cure her, while the doctor says that his medicines won’t work on the soul.
Scene iv: (Back out in Birnam Wood) Malcolm is leading the men – he tells them to each cut branches from the wood to hide behind so that Macbetth won’t know how many soldiers are coming.
Scene v: (in the castle) Macbeth is ready for the onslaught. He gets the news that Lady Macbeth has died, and bemoans the seeming futility of life. Just then, a messenger comes in to say that the fantastic has happened:
Birnam wood is moving. Macbeth is tormented by this news, and calls for his armor: ready to fight.
Scene vi: The soldiers throw down their branches and make ready to fight
Scene vii: Macbeth meets Young Siward (the son of one of the Englishmen helping Malcolm) and kills him.
Macbeth exits. Macduff comes onto the scene and calls out for Macbeth so that he can avenge his wife and children’s death. He exits too, looking for Macbeth. Old Siward and Malcolm enter to say that even Macbeth’s soldiers are refusing to fight against them – the castle has been stormed.
Scene viii: Macbeth and Macduff finally meet in battle and fight. Macbeth finds out the uniqueness of
Macduff’s birth. Macduff kills Macbeth and brings his head on a stake. Siward finds out that his son died “a man” and Malcolm becomes king, promising to richly reward all who aided him in regaining the throne.
QUESTIONS:
1. What all does Lady Macbeth reveal in her sleepwalking?
2. What does the doctor say of her ailments?
3. What does Angus mean:
“Thos he command move only in command
Nothing in love. Now does he feel his title
Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.”
4. What does Macbeth tell the doctor to do for Lady Macbeth? How does this “complete” the inversion between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?
5. Macbeth’s “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow . . .” speech is often seen as the epitome of “the abyss” of Tragedy. Explain how.
6. How are the prophesies of the apparitions resolved?
7. Why does Siward feel okay about his son’s death?

8. What ‘transcendence’ or ‘transformation’ does Macbeth achieve? (It is very, very quick in the act – but important – where does it happen and what is it about?)
9. So, who is most to blame, then? (Yeah, I know, I know, it’s a huge question – just tackle it a bit here!)