2.3.2
Scenes 4-9
Act 5, Scenes 4-5
Act 5, Scenes 4-5
Here's a summary of what happens in Act 5, Scenes 4 and 5:
Act 5, Scene 4
Act 5, Scene 4
- The army is marching towards Macbeth. The army has reached Birnam Wood.
- Malcolm orders the soldiers to cut branches off the trees and hold them in front of them. This is a tactic to hide the size of the army.
Act 5, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth's death
Act 5, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth's death
- Macbeth enters the stage with his men. They are beating drums and they are flying their colours to show they are ready.
- The castle is well protected, so Macbeth still doubts that this will happen.
- They hear the sound of crying women.
- Seyton tells Macbeth that Lady Macbeth is dead.
Act 5, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth's death (analysis)
Act 5, Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth's death (analysis)
- Macbeth is shocked and talks about how life is ‘a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing’.
- Macbeth realises that he has lost everything now, including the wife he had loved so much.
- This shows how the loss of his wife, and his increased power, have completely changed Macbeth. He feels there is no point to life anymore.
- But this attitude about life having no meaning could also suggest he is trying to justify his crimes – is he suggesting that the murders he has committed are less horrible because life, and death, are meaningless?
Act 5, Scene 5 - Birnam Wood
Act 5, Scene 5 - Birnam Wood
- Macbeth's speech is cut short as a messenger arrives. The messenger tells him that Birnam Wood is moving.
- Macbeth is alarmed but sees that there is not much he can do and feels that he can at least die fighting. He orders the ringing of the alarm bell to signal the attack.
Act 5, Scenes 6-7
Act 5, Scenes 6-7
Here's a summary of what happens in Act 5, Scenes 6 and 7:
Act 5, Scene 6
Act 5, Scene 6
- Outside, Malcolm orders the men to drop their branches. The attack begins with the sound of trumpets.
- As Macduff says, 'Make all our trumpets speak, give them all breath, / Those clamorous harbringers of blood and death'.
- For Macduff, and Macbeth, the trumpet sound signals coming deaths.
Act 5, Scene 7
Act 5, Scene 7
- Macbeth is trapped in his castle with no way of escape. He is still thinking about the prophecies: 'What's he / That was not born of woman? Such a one / Am I to fear or none.' Macbeth thinks he can't be harmed by anyone that a woman gave birth to.
- Siward's son is the first to fight Macbeth, but he loses. Macbeth believes that the prophecy is protecting him. He does not fear anyone: 'But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, / Brandished by man that's of a woman born.' He exits the stage.
- Macduff enters. He is looking for Macbeth so he can get revenge.
- Malcolm enters. He hears the news that the fight is almost won.
Act 5, Scenes 8-9
Act 5, Scenes 8-9
Here's a summary of what happens in Act 5, Scenes 8 and 9:
Act 5, Scene 8
Act 5, Scene 8
- Macbeth and Macduff meet each other. Macduff challenges him: 'Turn, hell-hound, turn.'
- Macduff refuses to go and they fight. Macbeth tells him he is protected: 'I bear a charmed life, which must not yield / To one of woman born.'
- Macduff then replies that he was born before his time by being taken from his mother's womb. This was probably by a caesarean section, either just before or after his mother's death: 'Macduff was from his mother's womb / Untimely ripped.'
- Macbeth realises that Macduff was not technically ‘born’ of a woman in the traditional way – and that he is not safe from Macduff.
Act 5, Scene 8 (continued)
Act 5, Scene 8 (continued)
- Macbeth curses those that told him the prophecies and refuses to fight on.
- Macduff tells him to surrender, but Macbeth refuses: 'Lay on Macduff, / And damned be him, that first cries, 'Hold, enough''.
- They exit the stage fighting.
Act 5, Scene 9
Act 5, Scene 9
- Malcolm enters the stage with Siward and Ross, other thanes and men.
- Macduff enters the stage carrying Macbeth's head.
- They hail Malcolm as the King of Scotland.
- Malcolm thanks them. He hopes those who fled the country under Macbeth's reign can now return to see him crowned.
1Literary & Cultural Context
2Plot Summary
3Characters
3.1Macbeth
3.2Lady Macbeth
3.3Other Characters
3.4Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Themes
4.1Themes
4.2Grade 9 - Themes
5Writer's Techniques
5.1Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques
Jump to other topics
1Literary & Cultural Context
2Plot Summary
3Characters
3.1Macbeth
3.2Lady Macbeth
3.3Other Characters
3.4Grade 9 - Key Characters
4Themes
4.1Themes
4.2Grade 9 - Themes
5Writer's Techniques
5.1Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered