Macbeth Act V Notes

Progress Reports

Act V
Scene i	Lady Macbeth's Fall Doctor is there to treat her 'illness': she has fallen under the same illness of insomnia as Macbeth: she finally is tormented with guilt the Gentlewoman is in attendance; in Line 16: "Lo...here she comes....and, upon my life, fast asleep!" In her sleep, Lady Macbeth confesses her own torment of guilt: Lines31-35: "Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One: two: why then 'tis time to do't...Who rould have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" Lines 36-39: "Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?" Lady Macduff's death Line43: "here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." Lines 53-55: "Whash your hands....Banquo's buried." In her sleep, she reaveals all the crimes Macbeth is guilty of to the doctor and the gentlewoman by the end of the scene, the doctor and gentlewoman say they now know something, but are afraid to name it outright for fear of punishment
Scene ii	Mentieth, Angus, Caithness, Lennox all thanes: tell of Malcolm approaching Birnam Wood while Macbeth fortifies his own castle
Scene iii	Macbeth: "let them fly all!" his thanes fled before the approaching army of Malcolm the doctor comes in and tells Macbeth that his wife is sick, but it is a mental sickness (guilt)
Scene iv	Birnam Wood: Malcolm greets those thanes who did not flee, but waited to ally themselves with him
Scene v	Macbeth is beseiged in Dunsinane (Duncan's castle);the women cry for fear, and Macbeth is finally reminded of the emotion A single cry 'within' is Lady Macbeth; Macbeth asks what is was, and Seyton says, "The queen, my lord, is dead" Lines 16-29: Macbeth gives in to fate; "She should hve died hereafter...Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more." A messenger comes in to tell Macbeth that Birnam Wood appeared to move (army): Macbeth's fate from his fortune
Scene vi	The battle begins, during which, Macbeth is captured
Scene vii	the scene opens with Macbeth tied to a stake, figuratively meaning he cannot get out alive
Scene viii	Macbeth and Macduff meet upon the battlefield Macbeth says he will not fear because of the previous prophecies of the witches--he ignores the messenger's notice of the wood moving; to bring events to a close, Macbeth says, "Lay on, Macduff; And damned be him that first cries, "Hold, enough!" they exit, and return on stage with Macduff the victor Malcolm is on stage; Macduff enters in line 54 carrying Macbeth's head--a present for Malcolm's crowning