Act V: Scenes IV - IX

The Text

The scene occurs in the country near Birnam Wood. With drum, colours, and soldiers marching, enter Malcolm, Siward, Siward's son, Macduff, Menteith, Caithness, Angus, Lennox, and Ross. Malcolm once again takes leadership. He says,

"Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand

That chambers will be safe" (lines 1 - 2),

or in other words, the nobles won't have to worry about being killed in their beds like Duncan was. His speech is basically a pep rally to motivate the nobles and soldiers. We see the character of Malcolm grow up in this play, from a child that runs away from danger in Act II, to a man who leads an army to gain what would rightfully should be his.

"Let every soldier hew him down a bough

And bear 't before him" (lines 4 - 5).

This is the moving of Birnam woods to Dunsinane, as the apparition foretold. This is somewhat the beginning of the end, the first of the apparitions' prophecies to come true. But who is the person not of woman born?

Siward says that "the confident tyrant" (Macbeth) remains in Dunsinane and will sit out his antagonists' siege in the palace. Malcolm adds that that strategy is Macbeth's principal hope for victory. For whenever Macbeth's soldiers have the opportunity to do so, they revolt against him. Macduff and Siward agree that they should not speculate on such matters; rather they should do their jobs as good soldiers, and time will tell whether or not their speculations are right. The group exits marching.

1. Why does Malcolm say that soon bedrooms will be safe?

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The Text

The scene takes place within Dunsinane castle. Macbeth, Seyton, and Macbeth's soldiers enter with drum and colours. Macbeth cries out that he and his soldiers will remain in the castle because the castle's "strength / Will laugh a siege to scorn." He will be able to endure until his enemies are depleted by famine and illness. If his enemies were not reinforced with men who have deserted him, his army might have gone out and met the enemy and beaten them back.

A cry of women interrupts Macbeth. Seyton goes off to discover the cause. "I have almost forgot the taste of fears," says Macbeth aside. At one time, he continues, he would have had chills on hearing a cry in the night; and at a horrible story his hair would have stood on end.

Although he might feel life is meaningless, he for some reason still fights on.

A Messenger enters and tells Macbeth of something that seems unbelievable:

"... I looked toward Birnam, and anon, methought,

The wood began to move."

Macbeth cries, "Liar, and slave!" The Messenger insists upon the truth of his statement. Macbeth says that if the Messenger is lying, the latter will hang on a tree alive. If the Messenger is telling the truth, Macbeth would be indifferent to the Messenger's hanging him. Macbeth says that he begins

"To doubt the equivocation of the fiend,

That lies like truth."

He had been told not to fear until Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane,

"and now a wood

Comes toward Dunsinane."

Macbeth gives the order to fight outside the castle, for if what the Messenger said be true, it does not matter whether or not his army outwait the siege in the castle or wait outside.

"I'gin to be aweary of the sun," reflects Macbeth, "And wish the estate o' the world were now undone." Then he cries,

"Ring the alarm bell! Blow wind! come, wrack!

At least we'll die with harness on our back."

Questions

1. What do we learn about Macbeth from the "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow..." speech? Try to give some examples from the speech in your answer.

2. What does Macbeth now see that seems unbelievable to him?

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The Text

The scene takes place on a plain before the castle. Enter Malcolm, Old Siward, Macduff, and their armies, with boughs. Malcolm says that they are now near enough (to the castle) to out down the branches of Birnam Wood, which they have been using as camouflage. Malcolm then makes the arrangements for battle. Macduff gives the order for the trumpets to sound, which announce the coming of "blood and death."

The scene occurs on the field of battle.

Macbeth feels trapped:

Macbeth and Young Siward fight and Macbeth is victorious. He gets very cocky when he says,

"But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,

Brandished by man that's of woman born" (lines 12 - 13).

You know the statement about not getting overconfident. Someone should tell Macbeth this because he may lose some confidence soon, and that could crush him.

1. Why is Macbeth unafraid of young Siward?

2. Describe Macduff’s feelings about Macbeth - why do you think he feels this way?

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The Text

Macbeth and Macduff come to their final struggle. Macduff surprises Macbeth by saying:

"Despair thy charm,
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
Untimely ripped." (lines 13 - 16.)

Macbeth is killed by Macduff, ending the struggle between light and dark. Siward finds is son dead. He says,

"He's worth no more:

They say he parted well and paid his score:

And so God be with him!" (lines 51 - 53).

He doesn't mourn or feel emotion. Is he the true man? The play ends with Malcolm taking the crown. Malcolm gives a speech to close the story. In his speech he thanks his friends who have fought on the side on good and says that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth brought their deaths upon themselves through their evil and selfish deeds. This speech finishes off the play with a note of the moral; it's the last thing that is in our heads as we leave the story so it is a good thing to conclude with a moral.

Questions

5. How are order and balance restored at the end of the play?

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