Act Five

Act Five

Summary and Questions

Macbeth's View of Life After Lady Macbeth's Death

-Questions-

1) While Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, to what three prior events does she refer? - To the three murders of Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family.

2) To what event does she keep coming back?

- To the murder of Duncan, because thats the one that she was more involved with.

3) What news does Seyton bring Macbeth in Scene V?

-That the Queen killed herself.

4) What in the messenger's report makes Macbeth fear that the apparition's second prophecy is coming true?

- He said that the trees of Birnam Wood were advancing toward Dunsinane.

5) In Scene viii why does Macbeth tell Macduff he does not wish to fight him?

- He told Macduff that they had been so good of friends and he had already killed his family and he wasn't going to kill him too. He said that he was going to be the braver man and step down.

6) What does Macduff tell Macbeth concerning the apparitions' third prophecy?

- He told Macbeth that he wasn't born from a woman, that he was ripped from his mother and that she died in the process.

7) Whom does Macbeth kill in the encounter with the English forces?

- Siward

8) Whom does Macduff kill?

- Macbeth

9) At the end of the play, who is to be crowned King of Scotland?

-Malcolm is crowned King of Scotland.

10) Why do you think it is an "accustomed action" for Lady Macbeth to wash her hands while sleepwalking?

- Because she had killed someone and she had blood on her hand. She is haunted by the guilt.

11) Why does Macbeth remain confident of surviving the battle with Malcolm's army despite his own troops' desertion?

- Because he thinks that he is shielded by the apparitions.

12) Judging by the way Macbeth behaves in Scene iii, descride his state of mind? - He is struggling with his emotions.

13) What changes in his personality is Macbeth describing in Scene v, lines 9-14?

- His emotions are taking a swing all the way back. He went from being cocky and confident to being like he was nothing and that all you do in life is live and then die.

14) Why does Macbeth say, "She should have died hereafter," upon learning of the death of Lady Macbeth?

- She would have died anyways.

15) Macbeth, mad and murderous though he is, shows certain admirable traits to the very end. What are some of his better traits?

- He showed courage, pride, and bravery to the end. He was proud to be a soldier.

-Summary-

Lady Macbeth has now clearly lost her mind. First her physician and a gentlewoman discuss her sleepwalking and talking to herself. Lady Macbeth gets a touch of how Macbeth has felt and makes her famous speech that she cannot wipe away the blood on her hands. Macbeth's enemies gather near his home in Dunsinane while he sets up his castle. Macbeth prepares to fight keeping the prophecy in mind that he can only be defeated by Birnam Woods. Macbeth now learns of the ten thousand man army fighting against him. Seyton confirms this bad news and Macbeth fights scared to death still relying on the words of witches. With his troops loyally around him, Malcolm orders each man to cut down a branch from the forest camouflaging his army with Birnam Woods and they then march to Macbeth’s castle. We later are shown that Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth overlooks his loss and is told that Birnam Woods are getting closer. This completely ruined his safety, but Macbeth courageously fights anyway. Macbeth is now confronted by Macduff, a man he has consciously avoided and one, he refuses to fight. Macbeth says that he has lived a superstitious life and is unable to be killed by a man who was born of a woman. Macduff now explains that he was ripped from his mother’s womb. The two men fight, and Macbeth is killed. Scotland goes back to and orderly country when Malcolm receives the position as the new King of Scotland.

Macbeth