act 5

• Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and obsessively washing her hands (re-enacting the murder and trying to wash the blood off her hands). The doctor comes to visit her but says that she is possessed and he cannot heal her.
• The army is marching towards Dunsinane. Macbeth is going mad
• Macbeth shows hubris and is cruel to Seyton. The doctor tells him about Lady Macbeth.
• Malcolm tells the army to carry boughs in front of them to disguise their numbers.
• In the middle of battle Macbeth finds out that Lady Macbeth has died. He no longer feels fear. He is told that the woods are moving and there is going to be a siege.
• The army, including Malcolm, Siward, and Macduff, has reached the castle. They reveal themselves from under the branches and blow trumpets.
• Macbeth kills young Siward. Macduff wants to avenge his family so he looks for Macbeth. The castle is being defeated, Macbeth’s forces are betraying him.
• Macduff faces Macbeth, but Macbeth thinks he can’t be killed. Macduff then reveals that he was born by caesarean section rather than a natural birth. Macbeth dies. Malcolm is crowned King of Scotland and vows to restore order.
• 'Out, damned spot: I say!'


  Lady Macbeth - Struck with guilt, unable to cope with what she had done. Suggests that a woman could never sucessfully overturn the patriarchy.
• 'The Thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?'


  Lady Macbeth - Talking in rhyme, childlike and suggests insanity/loss of mind.
• 'Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane, I cannot taint with fear.'


  Macbeth - Showing extreme arrogance and acting like he is an untouchable god. Thinks he is untouchable since the Witches tricked him into a false sense of security.
• 'She should have died hereafter,'


  Macbeth - (About the death of Lady Macbeth) Feels little remorse about her death, shows how the passion has gone. Also interesting how she dies off stage, displaying how unimportant she now is.
• 'and now a wood comes to Dunsinane'


  Macbeth - Turning point, beginning of Macbeth's downfall, now more vulnerable.
• '[They fight and young Seyward is slain]'


  Macbeth - Shows how ruthless and heartless Macbeth is, able to kill a young man just for power.
• 'Macduff was from his mother's womb untimely ripped'


  Macduff - Mockery of Macbeth from witches when the prophecies are becoming possible, breaks down his walls completely marking the end of Macbeth.
• 'Hail, King, for so thou art'


  Macduff - Even though he was the one to kill Macbeth, he happily names Malcolm as the rightful King, an admirable character.