MACBETH ACT 5 SUMMARY
1. Sleepwalking scene from Lady Macbeth- “Out damned spot”. She has become
weak as she is feeling guilty about King Duncan's murder- “Here’s the smell of
blood still”- Reference to the dagger.
2. Macbeth has changed a lot from a humble and loyal character to a hubristic and
braggadocious traitor- “I cannot taint with fear”- He is untouchable due to the
witches apparition as he “shall never sag with doubt or shake with fear”.
3. Then, a scene where Macbeth vows to fight until his last breath- “I'll fight till my
bones, my flesh be hacked. Give me my armour”: Facade of machismo
4. He is then told about Lady Macbeth’s sickness, but he dismisses it- Lack of
emotional care - “pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow”. Does not
understand the severity of Lady Macbeth situation.
5. Macbeth feels disconnected from any guilt whatsoever as “I have almost forgot
the taste of fears” and he reminisces about his past deeds and how cruel acts
no longer frighten him.
6. Macbeth is then informed that Lady Macbeth is dead as she has committed
suicide but due to Macbeth’s nihilism, he is not concerned at all- “she should
have died hereafter”, “Life is but a walking shadow-futility of life.
7. The witches apparition starts becoming true- “The wood began to move”
although Macbeth doesn’t want to believe it- “Liar and slave”.
8. Although, he then accepts his fate and realises the witches have destroyed him:
“at least we'll die with harness on our back” - he will fight until the end.
9. The fight between Macbeth and Macduff takes place as Macduff conveys that he
was “from his mother's womb, untimely ripped” -the idea that all the witches
apparition has failed. They continue fighting as Macbeth says, “And damned be
him that first cries, ‘Hold, enough!”- A cataclysmic finale where Macduff kills
Macbeth.
10. Restoration of goodness in Scotland as Macduff provides Malcolm with Macbeth
head- “Producing forth the cruel ministers of this dead butcher and his fiend-like
1. Sleepwalking scene from Lady Macbeth- “Out damned spot”. She has become
weak as she is feeling guilty about King Duncan's murder- “Here’s the smell of
blood still”- Reference to the dagger.
2. Macbeth has changed a lot from a humble and loyal character to a hubristic and
braggadocious traitor- “I cannot taint with fear”- He is untouchable due to the
witches apparition as he “shall never sag with doubt or shake with fear”.
3. Then, a scene where Macbeth vows to fight until his last breath- “I'll fight till my
bones, my flesh be hacked. Give me my armour”: Facade of machismo
4. He is then told about Lady Macbeth’s sickness, but he dismisses it- Lack of
emotional care - “pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow”. Does not
understand the severity of Lady Macbeth situation.
5. Macbeth feels disconnected from any guilt whatsoever as “I have almost forgot
the taste of fears” and he reminisces about his past deeds and how cruel acts
no longer frighten him.
6. Macbeth is then informed that Lady Macbeth is dead as she has committed
suicide but due to Macbeth’s nihilism, he is not concerned at all- “she should
have died hereafter”, “Life is but a walking shadow-futility of life.
7. The witches apparition starts becoming true- “The wood began to move”
although Macbeth doesn’t want to believe it- “Liar and slave”.
8. Although, he then accepts his fate and realises the witches have destroyed him:
“at least we'll die with harness on our back” - he will fight until the end.
9. The fight between Macbeth and Macduff takes place as Macduff conveys that he
was “from his mother's womb, untimely ripped” -the idea that all the witches
apparition has failed. They continue fighting as Macbeth says, “And damned be
him that first cries, ‘Hold, enough!”- A cataclysmic finale where Macduff kills
Macbeth.
10. Restoration of goodness in Scotland as Macduff provides Malcolm with Macbeth
head- “Producing forth the cruel ministers of this dead butcher and his fiend-like
