Macbeth Summaries and Notes: Act 5 1
Act 5, Scene 1 The Sleepwalk Scene A doctor and Gentlewoman observe Lady M sleepwalking as she has done for several nights She rubs her hands and relives the murders she and Macbeth are responsible for The doctor knows they should not here waht Lady M is saying He worries she may kill herself and orders all means to do harm be removed from her room "Out, damned spot! Out I say!" 2
CHARACTER REVEAL: Lady M is GUILTY She cannot sleep ("the innocent sleep") She tries to wipe the blood off her hands Out " damned spot!" in her sleep. Remember in Act 2, scene 2 she said "A little water clears us of this deed." Now she cannot wash the blood from her hands. This is the last time we'll see Lady M. She has been emotionally and psychologicaly destroyed by their actions 3
Act 5, Scene 2 Filler, really... The armies opposed to Macbeth will meet at Birnam Wood. All are committed to overthrowing Macbeth Those who still follow Mac do so out of fear, not love 4
Act 5, Scene 3 Macbeth Before the Battle Mac discovers many nobles are deserting him but he is not worried because of the prophecies; he discusses Lady M with the doctor but is not too worried CHARACTER ALERT: Macbeth is LOSING TOUCH WITH REALITY He looks forward to the battle, but shows signs of being unstable, asking for his armor th ordering it taken away He will not be afraid "Till Birnam Wood come to Dunsinane." 5
Act 5, Scene 4 The Awesome Camouflage Scene! Malcolm tells his forces to pluck branches of Birnam Wood to hide their numbers as they head toward Macbeth's castle at Dunsinane. BEST. STRATEGY. EVER!!! 6
Act 5, Scene 5 The "Tomorrow and tomorrow" Scene "Out, out brief candle!" Mac is told Lady M is dead he thinks about the meaninglessness of life He is told that it seems as though Birnam Wood is moving toward them He vows to fight to the death 7
Act 5, Scene 5 Major CHARACTER REVEAL: Macbeth is SOMEWHAT HUMBLED/HUMAN In this famous speech (p 103, lines 21 30) he compares a person's life to an actor who p a role for a brief time then dies and is forgotten. "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. " This is very different from the ambitious, arrogant Macbeth who acted as though he was the centre of the world. 8
Act 5, Scenes 6 and 7 The Battle at Dunsinane Mac is confident again ("What's he that was not born of woman? Such a one I am to fea or none." He kills Siward's son Macbeth's soldiers are intentionally throwing the fight. They support Malcolm Macduff vows to find and kill Macbeth ("Tyrant, show thy face!") 9
Act 5, Scene 8 Macbeth and Macduff Fight "Lay on, Macduff, and damned be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'" Mac admits he's been avoiding Macduff because he feels guilty for killing his family Mac brags about his charmed life and that he can't be killed by one born of woman Macduff responds he was born by Cesarian section " untimely ripped" from his mother's womb Mac says he won't fight with Macduff (he's in shock) but he will not be taken prisoner an made to kneel at Malcolm's feet They fight. Macduff wins and beheads Macbeth Malcolm is hailed as King and promises to restore peace after the reign this of " dead butcher and his fiend like queen." 10
The CONFLICT is over Macbeth's CHARACTER contributed to his downfall: AMBITION led him to commit murder and go after the crown PARANOIA led him to kill repeatedly to keep it. He became a tyrant OVER CONFIDENCE led him to ignore the signs that he would lose it all (his crown, h wife, his life) 11