Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ambiguous Ending
English Lit: AQA GCSE Macbeth, topic 2.3.4
The play does end happily in the sense that Malcolm is rightly restored to the throne – ‘Hail, King of Scotland’ exclaims Macduff in Act 5 Scene 9. However, those words reflect the cries of ‘Hail’ from the three Witches in Act 1 Scene 3. This subtle mirroring casts a degree of uncertainty on the longevity of Malcolm's reign. A happy ending, no doubt, but also a menacingly ambiguous one.
Test yourself on Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ambiguous Ending
In Macduff's exclamation, ‘Hail, King of Scotland’ in Act 5, Scene 9, the word 'Hail' reflects which earlier part of the play?
What is the impact of this mirroring of language between these different scenes?