Before You Read
Macbeth Act V
FOCUS ACTIVITY
Is restoration of peace possible?
Freewriting
In most of his tragedies, Shakespeare aims to restore a sense of peace and natural order to
society by the end of the play. Do you think this is possible in Macbeth? Who do you
think should be king of Scotland? What will the king of Scotland need to do to ensure the
restoration of peace by the end of the play?
Setting a Purpose
Although there are exciting moments in the play, much of the drama takes place in the
minds of the character. Several characters struggle with good and evil and believe their
fate is decided by the Witches and other sinister forces. The damage of the psychological
and political effects of ambition are revealed in this final act.
BACKGROUND
Time and Place
Act V begins with one of the most famous scenes in world drama. The Gentlewoman
reports to the Doctor that she has seen Lady Macbeth sleepwalking. She refuses to tell
what her mistress has said in her sleep. In reality, Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking language
is dreamlike: short and disjointed recollections of Macbeth’s deeds.
VOCABULARY PREVIEW
arbitrate – to judge or settle a dispute
fury – uncontrollable anger or rage
gentry – people of good family or high social position
mar – to damage or spoil
perturbation – something that disturbs or makes one anxious
pristine – remaining in a pure state; uncorrupted
upbraid – to criticize sharply; to reprimand
Name:
Date:
Period:
Responding
Macbeth, Act V
Personal Response
The gentlewoman tells how she has seen Lady Macbeth carefully take paper, fold it, write
on it, read it and seal it – all in her sleep. What do you think Lady Macbeth is writing? Is
it a confession? A letter to Macbeth? A warning to Lady Macduff? Or something else?
How honest might she be bearing in mind that she is writing when she is unconscious?
Analyzing Literature, Act V, Scene i
Recall and Interpret
1. What is ironic about Lady Macbeth’s constant “handwashing”?
2. What does the Doctor’s “Foul whisperings are abroad” speech echo?
Analyzing Literature, Act V, Scene ii
Recall and Interpret
3. The language Caithness and Angus use in lines 12-22 portrays Macbeth in a very
negative way. Identify and write out three images from these lines that strongly capture
their opinion of Macbeth. Which image do you think is most powerful? Why did
Shakespeare choose to describe Macbeth so negatively at this point in the play?
Analyzing Literature, Act V, Scenes ii-vii
Recall and Interpret
4. What bad news is Macbeth faced with at the beginning of Scene iii? What does
Macbeth recall in an attempt to cheer himself up?
5. Macbeth wearily broods on the unhappy future that awaits him. In line 25, list the four
things that he says old people wish for. Lines 27-8 list the two things that he is likely to
receive. What are they?
6. What tactical strategy does Malcolm take? How does this effect Macbeth’s reliance on
the Apparition’s forecast?
7. What news sets Macbeth brooding on life’s futility?
8. Facing Macduff, what does Macbeth boast? What does Macduff reveal? How does
Macbeth respond? What does Macduff threaten?
9. Act V, Scene viii, lines 27-34 are Macbeth’s last in the play. What does he choose
here? What is Macbeth’s fate?
Literature and Writing
Themes – What does it mean to be brave?
Macbeth is a play preoccupied with what it means to be brave, and each of the main
characters has the opportunity to prove their courage in many different ways (event he
Messenger, a minor character, has to be brave to tell Macbeth the news about Brinam
Wood). Write two or three paragraphs arguing for the character you think is the bravest
of all, using specific references from the play to support your argument.
“The tyrant’s people on both sides do fight”
In Scene vii, some of Macbeth’s soldiers have deserted and now fight for Malcolm (line
26). Write some notes for and against defecting from Macbeth’s forces. Using these
notes, step into the role of a soldier and write a private letter to a close friend, explaining
why you have chosen to either defect or fight. What are your views of Macbeth? Of
Scotland? Of your future happiness and ambition? Refer to the conversation between
Malcolm, Macduff, and Ross in Act IV, Scene iii, lines 140-79 to develop the personal
reasons for your actions.
Themes – Macbeth’s Guilt
The threat of being displayed in a cage in a circus is a humiliation that Macbeth cannot
bear to contemplate. What ten crimes of Macbeth’s would you write beneath Macduff’s
proposed sign? Decide on everything he is guilty of, then sequence his crimes in order of
importance, with the most serious at number one.
Themes – Kingship
The theme of kingship and ideas of what makes a good king run through the play.
Throughout your reading you have had the opportunity to consider Macbeth as a political
leader. At times it is possible to compare him to a warrior like Braveheart, especially in
Act I, Scene ii. Further comparisons can be made between Macbeth and historical tyrants,
such as Joseph Stalin and Idi Amin. Draw a table with two columns. In the first column,
list all the qualities of a tyrant. In the second column, list Macbeth’s qualities. To what
extent dies he fit the criteria of a bloody tyrant?
Essay Planning
In small groups, every member of the group writes one essay question each on:
 Macbeth
 Lady Macbeth
 their relationship
The group chooses the strongest question and plans an answer collectively. Deliver your
essay plans as a presentation to the rest of the class.