Act 5

• What does Lady Macbeth reflect on in her final scene?

  Her and her husband's actions
• What does Lady Macbeth's line about the old man signify?

  Her disbelief in the consequences of murder
• How does Lady Macbeth's earlier claim about "a little water" contrast with her final reflection?

  It shows her initial naivety about guilt
• What does the motif of blood represent in Lady Macbeth's final scene?

  Guilt and remorse from Duncan's murder
• Who is referred to as "the old man" in Lady Macbeth's reflection?

  Duncan
• What does the interrogative clause “who would have thought…” convey about Lady Macbeth's character?

  Her disbelief and former naivety
• What are the relevant characters and themes in Lady Macbeth's final scene?

  • Characters: Lady Macbeth
  • Themes:
  • Guilt and remorse
  • Power and corruption
  • Greed and ambition
  • Good and evil
• What does Lady Macbeth claim about her hands during her sleep-walking scene?

  “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”
• What does Lady Macbeth attempt to do in her sleep-walking scene?

  She tries to wash her hands
• How does the imagery in Lady Macbeth's line differ from Macbeth's version?

  It focuses on the smell of blood, not sight
• Why is the smell of blood significant in Lady Macbeth's context?

  It lingers long after the visual stain
• How can smell evoke memories according to the study material?

  It can transport us back to past times
• What does the imagery of perfume and “little hand” suggest about Lady Macbeth's character?

  It reflects her reversion to a feminine role
• What are the relevant characters and themes associated with Lady Macbeth's line?

  • Characters: Lady Macbeth
  • Themes:
  • Guilt and remorse
  • Power and corruption
  • Greed and ambition
  • Good and evil
• “What's done cannot be undone”

  Embedded and contextualised example: At the end of Act 5 Scene 1, Lady Macbeth returns to bed, but before she does so she concludes her rambling final scene by claiming that “what’s done cannot be undone.”

  Reasons for learning it:

  • It’s short and easy to learn
  • It is perhaps the most important structural echo in a scene full of structural echoes: in Act 3 Scene 2 she said, “What’s done is done” - though very similar in terms of the words used, the difference in meaning between these two lines is dramatic: before she wanted to put the past behind her; now she wishes to change the past but knows she cannot

  Relevant characters and themes: Lady Macbeth, guilt and remorse, power and corruption, greed and ambition, good and evil
• What simile is used to describe Macbeth's title?

  It hangs loose like a giant's robe
• What does Angus claim about Macbeth's title in the play?

  It hangs loosely, indicating his unworthiness
• What does the simile about Macbeth's title suggest about his power?

  It suggests he lacks true authority and significance
• What motif is used throughout the play to represent responsibilities and titles?

  • The motif of clothing
  • Represents power and authority
  • Highlights the burden of kingship
• How is kingship represented in the simile about Macbeth?

  Kingship is equated to the robe of a giant
• What does the term "dwarfish thief" imply about Macbeth's character?

  It implies he is small and unworthy
• How does Macbeth's portrayal change from the beginning to the end of the play?

  He shifts from a hero to a despised figure
• What are the relevant characters and themes in Macbeth?

  • Characters: Macbeth
  • Themes:
  • Power and corruption
  • Greed and ambition
  • Good and evil
• What does Macbeth claim about his way of life in Act 5?

  It has fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf
• What does Macbeth mean by "the sear, the yellow leaf"?

  It symbolizes the end of his life and vitality
• How does the verb "fall" in Macbeth's reflection affect the interpretation of his responsibility?

  It suggests a lack of full responsibility for his actions
• What does the asyndetic list of abstract nouns in Macbeth's speech convey?

  • Sense of abundance of what he lacks
  • Suggests his life has been a failure
  • Highlights the many things he misses
• When does Macbeth deliver his lines about his way of life?

  When he is alone on stage
• What do Macbeth's lines suggest about his feelings?

  He genuinely feels remorse and regret
• What is the significance of moments of recognition in Classical tragedy?

  • Tragic hero realizes consequences of actions
  • Important convention before the hero's demise
  • Highlights the character's development and understanding
• What are the relevant characters and themes in Macbeth's reflection?

  • Characters: Macbeth
  • Themes: guilt and remorse, power and corruption, greed and ambition, good and evil
• What is the opening phrase of Macbeth's speech?

  “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow”
• What does Macbeth's speech reflect about his view on life?

  Life is long and tedious
• How does Shakespeare alter the rhythm in this speech?

  He slows it down to reflect life's tedium
• How many syllables are in the eleven-syllable line of the speech?

  Eleven syllables
• What poetic devices does Shakespeare use in this speech?

  Dactyls and caesurae
• What effect does the repetition of 'and' and 'tomorrow' have?

  It conveys the repetitiveness of life
• How does the repetition of 'tomorrow' affect its meaning?

  It drains the word of its meaning
• What does the metaphor of days “creeping” imply?

  It implies slowness and weariness
• What sound contributes to the despairing tone of the speech?

  The long vowel sound ‘ee’