Act 5 Flashcards
Scène 1 analysis, lady Macbeth sleep walks
This is the first time the audience sees lady Macbeth since things star to go wrong. Her character is completely different as she has become mad from guilt and fear. The doctor also says “unnatural deeds Do breed unnatural troubles” this reminds the audience of the unnatural things we saw in act 2
How do the audience see lady Macbeth is mad
She demands to have a candle with her at all times as she has become scared of the dark, the opposite to how she was in act one when she welcomed it, “come thick night”
She tries to wash imaginary blood of her hand when she sleeps “out, damned spot”, this contrasts her attitude in act two where she tells macbeth “a little water clears us of the deed”
How does lady Macbeths speech show how she has changed
Her language before was smooth and articulate, speaking in blank verse, it is now disjointed prose, which shows how troubled her mind has become
She also asks many questions which shows the confusion of her mind unlike the certainty she had previously in act one , “we shall not fail”
Analysis of scene 2, the thanes prepare for battle against Macbeth
The Scottish lords are preparing a battle against Macbeth, this shows how even those who are meant to be the most loyal to the king have turned against him
They plant to meet the English army at birnam woods, reminding the audience of the witches prophecy and hints that Macbeth may be defeated
How does Shakespeare use metaphors in scene 2
He uses health to describe Scotland as unwell and refers to Malcolm as the “med’cine” that will cure Scotland
Nature is used when Lennox describes Malcolm as the “sovereign flower”. He also says he wants to “drown the weeds” meaning get rid of Macbeth, Macbeth is a weed as he’s destroying the land and stopping anything from growing
Analysis of scene 3 and 4, the English and Scottish lords armies meet and they prepare for battle
These scenes are very short, this quickens the pace to add to the drama
Macbeth begins to despair even though he thinks he’s invincible, “I have lived long enough” suggests he thinks his life has been worthless and that he may lose
Even though to himself, he is worried, he acts confident to his servants using orders such as “give me my armour”, this contrasts his unstable mentality
He also shows signs of going mad, telling seyton to put on his armour then almost immediately telling him to “pull’t off”, he’s confused and unbalanced like lady Macbeth
Malcolm tells his armies to cut branches of birnam woods to disguise their numbers, the audience realise the witches tricked Macbeth into his over confidence and that he will be defeated
The English army are controled and calm, unlike Macbeths frenzied behaviour
Scène 5 analysis, lady Macbeth dies
Macbeth altimates between arrogance and despair, shows how confused he is.
When he realises his wife is dead, he realised all his actions “signifying nothing” and describes life as a “shadow” and a “candle”, its meaningless. This shows how he regrets what he has done, he is still human
Macbeth finds out birnam woods is moving to him, he knows he was tricked by the witches, “the fiend that lies like truth”, it’s ironic he trusted them considering his betrayal to Duncan who trusted him.
Macbeth decides to fight, the brace decision takes him back to how he was in act 1
Scène 6 and 7 analysis
Malcolms army march to dunsinane and surround Macbeths army. Macbeth meets young Siward and kills him, this gives him confidence. His confidence is shown in “thou’lt be afraid to hear it”, he knows his name carries fear. Macbeth still is trying to tell himself he’s invincible even though one of the witches prophecies has already come true and they never lie
Analysis of scene 8, Macduff and Macbeth fight
Macbeth doesn’t want to fight Macduff as he feels guilty of killing his family, “my sound is too much charged with blood of thine already”, he is till human. He also says it like he would win as he thinks he’s invincible
He tells Macduff he can’t be harmed by one “of woman born”, Macduff reveals he was born of caesarean, Macbeth accepts he was tricked and will now die.
He is trapped but refuses to step down even though he knows he’s doomed, he is still a brave warrior of act one.
Scène 9 analysis
Macbeth is dead and Malcolm is crowned, Malcolm is concerned by the missing game nerd of his army, “Macduff is missing and your noble son”, this contrasts Macbeth as he is caring rather than cruel and ruthless
Siward finds out his son died but isn’t upset, he believes his son died an honourable death protecting Scotland, this shows how much he wanted to overthrow macbeth. He also says he “died a man” but Malcolm says “he’s worth more sorrow” saying he should be more upset as he realises being a man isn’t about it aggression
Macduff enters with the head of Macbeth, the play began and ended with a battle and a traitor being beheaded, giving the play a circular structure
