Summary Act V

THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH

ACT V SCENE 1The doctor and gentlewoman

discuss Lady Macbeth’s strange behavior – her sleepwalking, talking of blood, and scrubbing her hands to remove spots of blood that only she can see.

“Out damn spot, out I say.”

ACT V SCENE 2• Scottish lords discuss military tactics while

Macbeth is secure in his castle.

• Macolm and Macduff have 10,000 troops and they are waiting near Birnam Wood.

ACT V SCENE 3 Macbeth strolls about his castle as if he hasn’t

a care in the world.He believes that no man of woman born can

harm him and is therefore, too confident.

ACT V SCENE 4 AND 5

The English troops cut boughs from the trees of Birnham Wood and beginTo march toward Macbeth’s castle(think early camouflage).

Macbeth hears the news that his wife has taken her life. He seems indifferent.

He is informed that “Birnam Wood is marching to the castle. He remembers the prophecy and prepares to battle.

He is still confident in the 2nd prediction that no man of woman born will be able to harm him.

ACT V SCENES 6-9Battle scenes – fighting, fighting and more

fighting.Macbeth kills young Siward and several other

soldiers.He is still believing the witches’ prediction that

no man born of woman can harm him…UNTIL…

ACT V SCENE 8 Macduff informs Macbeth that he was

not born of a woman – he was ripped from his mother’s womb.

Macduff defeats Macbeth in battle and beheads him.

Malcolm is declared King of Scotland.

BRIEF ANALYSIS ACT VWhen the final prophecy comes true and Macbeth is left

to face reality, he sees what a fool he has been.

“…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.”Macbeth, the tragic hero, let his desire for power take

over and he ends up killing everyone & everything that mattered, leaving him with nothing.