Act 5 Scene Summaries Characters
Lady Macbeth: This is the moment we see
all of the fears and conscience finally catch
up to Lady Macbeth. The moment that she
finds out about the murder of Macduff’s
wife and children, and that of Banquo, she
collapses. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
shared a beautiful and passionate
relationship, one with a respect that was
quite rare for the time. There was
honestly and love, he referred to her as his
“dearest partner of greatness.” That’s a
Scene 1 beautiful title and demonstrates a trusting
relationship. Lady Macbeth was crushed
Lady Macbeth sleepwalks,
by not knowing the evil her husband was
acting out washing her
hands doing. She feels guilt for all of the murder
that happened, even though there is no
actual blood on her hands she keeps
scrubbing, but she can’t wash away guilt.
She cries in horror “Out damned spot! Out,
I say! – Hell is murky!” Then she continues
to go on in hellish horror “ The thane of
Fife had a wife. Where is she now?- What,
will these hands ne’er be clean?” P 180
After this scene she comes to her demise
at her own hands as the guilt, and
confusion destroy her.
Scene 2 Macbeth: This man is poisonous, he isn’t
Themes
Nature representing how the
moral order turned upside down:
The doctor speaks of unnatural
troubles and paranormal acts.
This because sleepwalking was
seen as a cursed and paranormal
act back in the times this play was
written.
Motifs
Blood: Blood is used to show the guilt
Lady Macbeth is living with. “Out
damned spot! Out, I say!” is what she
says thinking that there is blood on her
hands, and maybe not physical blood,
but she is filled with guilt for the
murders she committed. She reflects
on her evil thinking about Duncan, and
states “Who would have thought the
old ma to have so much blood in him.”
Blood plagues her mind.
Light & Dark:
It is stated that Lady Macbeth demands
to sleep with a candle at all times. She
refuses to be in the dark, that’s when
the thoughts and images can come
back to haunt her.
Blood: Angus refers to Macbeth saying

Scottish Lords discuss the
military situation
Scene 3
Macbeth boasts that he has
nothing to fear until the
wood moves. He finds out
that the army is approaching
and puts on his armor. The
doctor tells him of Lady
Macbeth’s illness and he tells
the doctor to cure her.
even loved by his own soldiers, they only
fight because it’s in their job description.
It’s pitifully easy for the English army to
infiltrate the castle, as they don’t really
want to fight for the tyrant Macbeth.
Macbeth: He has reached such indigence
that he fears nothing. He lives with the
belief that he cannot be hurt. He will run
into the war convinced he is untouchable
by all of the men on the field. He is in a
delusional, mad, absolutely insane state of
mind. When he finds out about his wife, he
wants her to get better, he wants to have
her cured. Sadly there’s no simple cure for
a broken mind. He asks “Can’t you treat a
diseased mind? Use some drug to ease the
troubling thought from her brain and ease
her heart?” p 195
that Macbeth will feel the wrath of
their revenge, for he feels “his secret
murders sticking on his hands”.
Borrowed robes:
It is said he is unfit for the title of king
and he achieved that name through
unjust methods. Angus questions “does
he feel his title hand loose bout him,
like a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish
fish.” Saying he shouldn’t be wearing
the King’s crown.
Nature representing how the
moral order turned upside down:
Macbeth says he’s safe until
Birnam wood gets up and moves
to Dunsinane. He is sure this will
not happen, so he gets cocky. He
keeps using this as an excuse to
keep his confidence up.
 Macbeth is determined to die honorable
and states “I’ll fight until they hack off my
bones. Give me my armor.

Scotland: All of Scotland is against

Macbeth. They want a good, noble leader,
not this tyrant.

Malcolm: He is continuing to develop

intelligence as he uses the branches of
Birnam wood as camouflage. He
demonstrating all of the qualities needed
Scene 4
as a king.
The army decided to take
Macduff: He is a strong, valiant man. He
branches off the trees to use
doesn’t want to go ahead and rest on his
as camouflage
laurels for he says, “We shouldn’t make
any judgments until we achieve our goal.
Let’s go fight like hardworking soldiers.”
This proves the type of man he is.
Nature representing how the
moral order turned upside down:
Borrowed robes: – ?
Now we see that the impossible
happens. Birnam wood appears to
be moving. This is due to the
camouflage plan of the English Light & dark: There is shade caused by
army. The apparitions causing an the branches. They are hidden within
over-abundance of ambition will the shadows. Ready to strike.
be his ruin.

Scene 5
Macbeth finds out that Lady
Macbeth is dead. He then
finds out that the wood is
starting to move and
becomes terrified.
Macbeth: It is tragic. He is cold and unable Light & Dark: The dark takes over his
to show his emotions. He has already mind. Nothing else is keeping a spark
accepted the fact that it’s over now, and of hope in Macbeth. Nothing but the
here is where he dies. He responds to the delirious thought that ‘no one born to a
tragic news by saying, “She should have woman can harm him.”
died hereafter.” Saying how it was
inevitable anyway. Then he breaks down,
saying life has no meaning anymore in the
tragic famous speech, “She should have
died hereafter. There would have been a
time for such a word. Tomorrow, and
tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this
petty pace from day to day To the last
syllable of recorded time, And all our
yesterdays have lighted fools The way to
dusty death. 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. It is a tale Told
by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”

There are many ways to interpret this

soliloquy, all as tragic as the rest.

1 – She should have died after the war, so

there would be the right time to mourn.

2 – She should have waited for me, my

death is near too.

3 – It would have happened eventually,

either now or later

4 – She should have died at the battle, but

now I know I will not win.

It shows he is giving up on the beliefs now

 she’s dead. It’s total desolation.

Scene 6

The battle commences

outside the castle

Macbeth: In his feeling of invincibility he

fights and kills the young Siward, for no
reason. Showing his absolute delusion.

Scene 7

Macduff: He walks up to the tyrant

without fear in mind. Strong and powerful
Macbeth strikes everyone he
he demands to kill Macbeth. He states,
can see, afraid of nothing.
“Tyrant, show thy face! If thou beest slain,
and with no stroke of mine, my wife and
children’s ghosts will haunt me still.” P
210

Scene 8
Macbeth and Macduff meet:
Macbeth finds out that
Macduff was born by
cesarean but vows not to
give in. Macduff emerges
Macbeth: Even in these last moments of
life, Macbeth wishes to hold on to honor.
The scene starts with him saying, “why
should play the Roman fool and die on
mine own sword?” p-212. He still sickly
believes he’s invincible, screaming to
Macduff, “thou loest labor. As easy mayst
thou the in trenchant air, with thy keen
Tyranny: The evil Macbeth is
dead, and the era of Tyranny that
follows his retched name is now
over. Let’s not speak of this man
except for in horror novels, of
what ambition can do to a man.

with Macbeth’s head, having
killed him.
sword impress as make me bleed.” But his
end came when Macduff announced he
was a cesarean. Alas, he was not formally
‘born’. Despite it all, even as he dies he
wishes to retain honor, stating, “I will not
yield.”
Macduff: He is a fighter who will do
anything for his country. He knew
Macbeth was a dangerous man and boldly
(maybe foolishly) went into battle with
the man. Even as Macbeth expressed his
feeling of invincibility, Macduff did not
yield. This is why he risked everything he
had to put his country back into order. He
is also a man very much fuelled by
revenge, and rage. He makes it so he must
be the one to put an end to the man who
killed his family.
Malcolm: He is kind of good, very much
like his father and, the kind that Scotland
deserves. He says, “I wish all of our friends
could have survived this battle.” A man
living with so much peace is the only type
of man who can bring nobility, back upon
a wounded country.