ACT FIVE
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Scene One
Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle.
[Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman]
Doctor I have two nights watched with you, but can perceive
no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?
Gentlewoman Since his majesty went into the field, I have seen
her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon
her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,
write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again
return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
Doctor A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once 10
the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of
watching! In this slumbery agitation, besides her
walking and other actual performances, what, at any
time, have you heard her say?
Gentlewoman That, sir, which I will not report after her.
Doctor You may to me: and 'tis most meet you should.
GentlewomanNeither to you nor any one; having no witness to 20
confirm my speech.
[Enter LADY MACBETH, with a taper]
Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise;
and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.
Doctor How came she by that light?
Gentlewoman Why, it stood by her: she has light by her
continually; 'tis her command.
Doctor You see, her eyes are open.
Gentlewoman Ay, but their sense is shut.
Doctor What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands. 30
Gentlewoman It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thus
washing her hands: I have known her continue in
this a quarter of an hour.
LADY MACBETH Yet here's a spot.
Doctor Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes from
her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.
LADY MACBETH Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why,
then, 'tis time to do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my 40
lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we
fear who knows it, when none can call our power to
account?--Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him.
Doctor Do you mark that?
LADY MACBETH The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?--
What, will these hands ne'er be clean?--No more o'
that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with
this starting. 50
Doctor Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.
Gentlewoman She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of
that: heaven knows what she has known.
LADY MACBETH Here's the smell of the blood still: all the
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
hand. Oh, oh, oh!
Doctor What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged. 60
Gentlewoman I would not have such a heart in my bosom for the
dignity of the whole body.
Doctor Well, well, well,--
Gentlewoman Pray God it be, sir.
Doctor This disease is beyond my practise: yet I have known
those which have walked in their sleep who have died
holily in their beds.
LADY MACBETH Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale.--I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he 70
cannot come out on's grave.
Doctor Even so?
LADY MACBETH To bed, to bed! there's knocking at the gate:
come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's
done cannot be undone.--To bed, to bed, to bed!
[Exit]
Doctor Will she go now to bed?
Gentlewoman Directly.
Doctor Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds 80
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night:
My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.
I think, but dare not speak.
Gentlewoman Good night, good doctor.
[Exeunt]
Characters Introduced: N/A
Deaths: N/A
Summary: Lady Macbeth's gentlewomen describes to the doctor Macbeth has called for his wife, the strange actions of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth appears, sleep walking. She is distraught, trying to wash her hands over and over, yelling at a spot to come out. The gentlewomen says she does this for 15 minutes almost every night, and that she also writes letters and put them in a lock box while she is sleeping. The Doctor asks what Lady says, but the gentlewoman cannot say, because it is evidence of a crime. Lady continues to shout things like "get on your dress robes" and "Banquo is burried, he cannot harm you." after this she goes directly to bed. The doctor cannot do anything for her physicaly, like medicine or surgery, but he suggests that she needs to find God and confess her sins.
Important quotes:
Questions:
-
How are her words and actions linked back to earlier parts of the play?
-
What does her sleep walking suggest?
Scene Two
The country near Dunsinane.
[ Drum and colours. Enter MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS, LENNOX, and Soldiers ]
MENTEITH The English power is near, led on by Malcolm,
His uncle Siward and the good Macduff:
Revenges burn in them; for their dear causes
Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm
Excite the mortified man.
ANGUS Near Birnam wood
Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming.
CAITHNESS Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother?
LENNOX For certain, sir, he is not: I have a file
Of all the gentry: there is Siward's son,
And many unrough youths that even now 10
Protest their first of manhood.
MENTEITH What does the tyrant?
CAITHNESS Great Dunsinane he strongly fortifies:
Some say he's mad; others that lesser hate him
Do call it valiant fury: but, for certain,
He cannot buckle his distemper'd cause
Within the belt of rule.
ANGUS Now does he feel
His secret murders sticking on his hands;
Now minutely revolts upbraid his faith-breach;
Those he commands move only in command,
Nothing in love: now does he feel his title 20
Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.
MENTEITH Who then shall blame
His pester'd senses to recoil and start,
When all that is within him does condemn
Itself for being there?
CAITHNESS Well, march we on,
To give obedience where 'tis truly owed:
Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal,
And with him pour we in our country's purge
Each drop of us.
LENNOX Or so much as it needs,
To dew the sovereign flower and drown the weeds. 30
Make we our march towards Birnam.
[Exeunt, marching]
Characters Introduced: Caithness and Mentieth
Deaths: N/A
Summary: The rebels of Scotland are banning together and joining the English soldiers to recapture Scotland. It is said that Macbeth has lost his mind, others that are loyal to Macbeth say it is his excitement for battle. Lennox states that the Weed (Macbeth) will drown.
Important quotes:
Questions:
-
How does this scene heighten tension?
Scene Three
Dunsinane. A room in the castle.
[Enter MACBETH, Doctor, and Attendants]
MACBETH Bring me no more reports; let them fly all:
Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane,
I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm?
Was he not born of woman? The spirits that know
All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus:
'Fear not, Macbeth; no man that's born of woman
Shall e'er have power upon thee.' Then fly,
false thanes,
And mingle with the English epicures:
The mind I sway by and the heart I bear
Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear. 10
[Enter a Servant]
The devil damn thee black, thou cream-faced loon!
Where got'st thou that goose look?
Servant There is ten thousand--
MACBETH Geese, villain!
Servant Soldiers, sir.
MACBETH Go prick thy face, and over-red thy fear,
Thou lily-liver'd boy. What soldiers, patch?
Death of thy soul! those linen cheeks of thine
Are counsellors to fear. What soldiers, whey-face?
Servant The English force, so please you.
MACBETH Take thy face hence.
[Exit Servant]
Seyton!--I am sick at heart,
When I behold--Seyton, I say!--This push 20
Will cheer me ever, or disseat me now.
I have lived long enough: my way of life
Is fall'n into the sear, the yellow leaf,
And that which should accompany old age,
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have; but, in their stead,
Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath,
Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not. Seyton!
[Enter SEYTON]
SEYTON What is your gracious pleasure?
MACBETH What news more? 30
SEYTON All is confirm'd, my lord, which was reported.
MACBETH I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack'd.
Give me my armour.
SEYTON 'Tis not needed yet.
MACBETH I'll put it on.
Send out more horses; skirr the country round;
Hang those that talk of fear. Give me mine armour.
How does your patient, doctor?
Doctor Not so sick, my lord,
As she is troubled with thick coming fancies,
That keep her from her rest.
MACBETH Cure her of that.
Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, 40
Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow,
Raze out the written troubles of the brain
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the stuff'd bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart?
Doctor Therein the patient
Must minister to himself.
MACBETH Throw physic to the dogs; I'll none of it.
Come, put mine armour on; give me my staff.
Seyton, send out. Doctor, the thanes fly from me.
Come, sir, dispatch. If thou couldst, doctor, cast
The water of my land, find her disease, 50
And purge it to a sound and pristine health,
I would applaud thee to the very echo,
That should applaud again.--Pull't off, I say.--
What rhubarb, cyme, or what purgative drug,
Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them?
Doctor Ay, my good lord; your royal preparation
Makes us hear something.
MACBETH Bring it after me.
I will not be afraid of death and bane,
Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane. 60
Doctor [Aside] Were I from Dunsinane away and clear,
Profit again should hardly draw me here.
[Exeunt]
Characters Introduced: Servant
Deaths: N/A
Summary: Macbeth is sure that Birnam wood will not come to Dunsinane. When his servant comes in to inform him that there are 10 000 English soldiers ready to fight he brushes it off and tells the servant not to bother him any further. After this, Macbeth is brought into a short space of clarity where he realises he has lost everything, and all hopes of being happy. He beccons Seyton to come, and commands him to start scarring the people of Scotland, and all who think ill of Macbeth should be hung. when the doctor enters and tells Macbetht that Lady is Ill of the mind, and he cannot fix it, Macbeth suggests that the doctor should simply cut out the evils in her mind. When the doctor says he cant, Macbeth tells his that he is no use. Macbeht continues to be oblivious and excited by the fact he will not die in this war according to the witches predictions. at the end of the scene the doctor claims that he would have never come to Scotland if he had known the evil that lives there.
Important quotes:
Questions:
-
What is Macbeth counting on to protect him in this scene?
Scene Four
Country near Burnam wood.
[ Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, SIWARD and YOUNG SIWARD, MACDUFF, MENTEITH, CAITHNESS, ANGUS, LENNOX, ROSS, and Soldiers, marching ]
MALCOLM Cousins, I hope the days are near at hand
That chambers will be safe.
MENTEITH We doubt it nothing.
SIWARD What wood is this before us?
MENTEITH The wood of Birnam.
MALCOLM Let every soldier hew him down a bough
And bear't before him: thereby shall we shadow
The numbers of our host and make discovery
Err in report of us. Soldiers It shall be done.
SIWARD We learn no other but the confident tyrant
Keeps still in Dunsinane, and will endure
Our setting down before 't.
MALCOLM 'Tis his main hope: 10
For where there is advantage to be given,
Both more and less have given him the revolt,
And none serve with him but constrained things
Whose hearts are absent too.
MACDUFF Let our just censures
Attend the true event, and put we on
Industrious soldiership.
SIWARD The time approaches
That will with due decision make us know
What we shall say we have and what we owe.
Thoughts speculative their unsure hopes relate,
But certain issue strokes must arbitrate: 20
Towards which advance the war.
[Exeunt, marching]
Characters Introduced: N/A
Deaths: N/A
Summary: The soldiers and rebles convene to find out their meeting point before the attack. They will attack Dunsinane from there. Malcolm instructs th troops to tear down branches of Birnam wood to camoflage them while attacking Dunsinane.
Important quotes:
Questions:
-
How will the first of the witches partial truths be realized?
Scene Five
Dunsinane. Within the castle.
[ Enter MACBETH, SEYTON, and Soldiers, with drum and colours ]
MACBETH Hang out our banners on the outward walls;
The cry is still 'They come:' our castle's strength
Will laugh a siege to scorn: here let them lie
Till famine and the ague eat them up:
Were they not forced with those that should be ours,
We might have met them dareful, beard to beard,
And beat them backward home.
[A cry of women within]
What is that noise?
SEYTON It is the cry of women, my good lord.
[Exit]
MACBETH I have almost forgot the taste of fears;
The time has been, my senses would have cool'd 10
To hear a night-shriek; and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir
As life were in't: I have supp'd full with horrors;
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts
Cannot once start me.
[Re-enter SEYTON]
Wherefore was that cry?
SEYTON The queen, my lord, is dead.
MACBETH She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a word.
To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day 20
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.
[Enter a Messenger]
Thou comest to use thy tongue; thy story quickly.
Messenger Gracious my lord, 30
I should report that which I say I saw,
But know not how to do it.
MACBETH Well, say, sir.
Messenger As I did stand my watch upon the hill,
I look'd toward Birnam, and anon, methought,
The wood began to move.
MACBETH Liar and slave!
Messenger Let me endure your wrath, if't be not so:
Within this three mile may you see it coming;
I say, a moving grove.
MACBETH If thou speak'st false,
Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,
Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth, 40
I care not if thou dost for me as much.
I pull in resolution, and begin
To doubt the equivocation of the fiend
That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood
Do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood
Comes toward Dunsinane. Arm, arm, and out!
If this which he avouches does appear,
There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here.
I gin to be aweary of the sun,
And wish the estate o' the world were now undone. 50
Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack!
At least we'll die with harness on our back.
[Exeunt]
Scene Six
Characters Introduced: N/A
Deaths: Lady Macbeth
Summary: Macbeth finds out that his wife had killed herself. He goes on to say that She would have died anyways, as all living things do. He states that life is meaningful in the moment, but after you die, it means nothing. Tomorrow means nothing.A messenger enters baffled, and explains that it appears Birnam Wood is moving towards Dunsinane. Macbeth is bewildered and unrested since the prediction is coming true.
Important quotes:
Literacy Devices:
Questions:
-
How does Macbeth react to LAdy Macbeth's Death?
Dunsinane. Before the castle.
[ Drum and colours. Enter MALCOLM, SIWARD, MACDUFF, and their Army, with boughs ]
MALCOLM Now near enough: your leafy screens throw down.
And show like those you are. You, worthy uncle,
Shall, with my cousin, your right-noble son,
Lead our first battle: worthy Macduff and we
Shall take upon 's what else remains to do, 5
According to our order.
SIWARD Fare you well.
Do we but find the tyrant's power to-night,
Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight.
MACDUFF Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.
[Exeunt]
Characters Introduced: Siward
Deaths: N/A
Summary: Malcolm hails Macduff the leader of the battle. Macbeth will be slain tonight.
Important quotes:
Literacy Devices:
Questions:
-
What is the purpose of scene 6?
Scene Seven
Another part of the field.
[Alarums. Enter MACBETH]
MACBETH They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly,
But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What's he
That was not born of woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.
[Enter YOUNG SIWARD]
YOUNG SIWARD What is thy name?
MACBETH Thou'lt be afraid to hear it.
YOUNG SIWARD No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name
Than any is in hell.
MACBETH My name's Macbeth.
YOUNG SIWARD The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.
MACBETH No, nor more fearful.
YOUNG SIWARD Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword10
I'll prove the lie thou speak'st.
[They fight and YOUNG SIWARD is slain]
MACBETH Thou wast born of woman
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born.
[Exit]
[Alarums. Enter MACDUFF]
MACDUFF That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!
If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine,
My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; 20
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited. Let me find him, fortune!
And more I beg not.
[Exit. Alarums]
[Enter MALCOLM and SIWARD]
SIWARD This way, my lord; the castle's gently render'd:
The tyrant's people on both sides do fight;The noble thanes do bravely in the war;
The day almost itself professes yours,
And little is to do.
MALCOLM We have met with foes
That strike beside us.
SIWARD Enter, sir, the castle.
[Exeunt. Alarums]
ACT 5 SCENE 8 [ depending on version ]
Another part of the field.
[Enter MACBETH]
MACBETH Why should I play the Roman fool, and die
On mine own sword? whiles I see lives, the gashes
Do better upon them.
[Enter MACDUFF]
MACDUFF Turn, hell-hound, turn!
MACBETH Of all men else I have avoided thee:
But get thee back; my soul is too much charged
With blood of thine already.
MACDUFF I have no words:
My voice is in my sword: thou bloodier villain
Than terms can give thee out!
[They fight]
MACBETH Thou losest labour:
As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air
With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed: 10
Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests;
I bear a charmed life, which must not yield,
To one of woman born.
MACDUFF Despair thy charm;
And let the angel whom thou still hast served
Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb
Untimely ripp'd.
MACBETH Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,
For it hath cow'd my better part of man!
And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That palter with us in a double sense; 20
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope. I'll not fight with thee.
MACDUFF Then yield thee, coward,
And live to be the show and gaze o' the time:
We'll have thee, as our rarer monsters are,
Painted on a pole, and underwrit,
'Here may you see the tyrant.'
MACBETH I will not yield,
To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,
And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane, 30
And thou opposed, being of no woman born,
Yet I will try the last. Before my body
I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff,
And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'
[Exeunt, fighting. Alarums]
[Retreat. Flourish. Enter, with drum and colours, MALCOLM, SIWARD, ROSS, the other Thanes, and Soldiers ]
MALCOLM I would the friends we miss were safe arrived.
SIWARD Some must go off: and yet, by these I see,
So great a day as this is cheaply bought.
MALCOLM Macduff is missing, and your noble son.
ROSS Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt:
He only lived but till he was a man; 40
The which no sooner had his prowess confirm'd
In the unshrinking station where he fought,
But like a man he died.
SIWARD Then he is dead?
ROSS Ay, and brought off the field: your cause of sorrow
Must not be measured by his worth, for then
It hath no end.
SIWARD Had he his hurts before?
ROSS Ay, on the front.
SIWARD Why then, God's soldier be he!
Had I as many sons as I have hairs,
I would not wish them to a fairer death:
And so, his knell is knoll'd.
MALCOLM He's worth more sorrow, 50
And that I'll spend for him.
SIWARD He's worth no more
They say he parted well, and paid his score:
And so, God be with him! Here comes newer comfort.
[Re-enter MACDUFF, with MACBETH's head]
MACDUFF Hail, king! for so thou art: behold, where stands
The usurper's cursed head: the time is free:
I see thee compass'd with thy kingdom's pearl,
That speak my salutation in their minds;
Whose voices I desire aloud with mine:
Hail, King of Scotland!
ALL Hail, King of Scotland!
[Flourish]
MALCOLM We shall not spend a large expense of time 60
Before we reckon with your several loves,
And make us even with you. My thanes and kinsmen,
Henceforth be earls, the first that ever Scotland
In such an honour named. What's more to do,
Which would be planted newly with the time,
As calling home our exiled friends abroad
That fled the snares of watchful tyranny;
Producing forth the cruel ministers
Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen,
Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands 70
Took off her life; this, and what needful else
That calls upon us, by the grace of Grace,
We will perform in measure, time and place:
So, thanks to all at once and to each one,
Whom we invite to see us crown'd at Scone.
[Flourish. Exeunt]
Characters Introduced: YOung Siwaro
Deaths: Macbeth
Summary: Young Siward battles Macbeth, Young Siward is slain. Macbeth states this is because he is of women born. Macduff claims that he will be the only one to kill Macbeth, since he has taken Macduff's family and Macduff needs to avenge them. Siward states that both englishmen and those protecting Macbeth are fighting against Macbeth. After this, Macduff enters teh room where Macbeth is in. They fight. Macduff says that he is was not born, he was ripped from the womb. Macbeth decides to fight to his death rather then stand down and await his fortune. Siward is told that his son has been killed. Siward asks if there were knife marks on his front or back to determine if he fought valiantly. Young Siwards wound were on his front. Macduff enters the scene with Macbeths head, bloodied and terrfying, reaping the justice he needs. Malcolm gives the closing soliloquy, thanking all for the valiant fight and inviting all to watch him be crowned in Scone.
Important quotes:
Questions:
-
Why does Macduff say he must slay Macbeth? why can he?
-
Macduff kills Macbeth offstage. Why do you think Shakespeare chose to end Macbeth like this.
-
Explain how Macduff re-enters to rpove Macbeth has been finally defeated? Why must he do it this way? what is Symbolic about this?
-
Is Macbeth at fault for what happened? Why?
-
Why did this play have to be so bloody?