Macbeth, Act V Vidya, Dylan, Victoria, Skye

Scene 1 “Out, damned spot, out, I say! One. Two. … Hell is murky. Fie, my 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?” (Lady Macbeth) V:1:37-42 guilt is consuming her neurosis shift in tone from unscrupulousness -> doubt

Scene 1 “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” (Lady Macbeth) V:1:50-51 sensory descriptions evoke overwhelming guilt parallel to Macbeth’s earlier speech: “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.”

Scene 2 Summary: A Scottish force, in rebellion against Macbeth, marches toward Birnam Wood to join Malcolm and his English army.

Scene 2 “Those he commands move only in command. Nothing in love.” (Angus, speaking of Macbeth) V:2:19-20 dispels the “milk of human kindness” which used to prevent Macbeth from bad deeds differs from his humble beginnings as a loved general

Scene 3 “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?” (Macbeth) V:3:1-4 boastful certain of success free from fear dismissed all moral qualms the witches’ prophecy gives him false confidence without fear, he becomes immoral

Scene 3 “I have lived long enough. My way of life Is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf, And that which should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have, but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not.” (Macbeth) V:3:26-34 lament of his choices knows he has been dishonorable regretful

Scene 3 “Throw the physic to the dogs, I’ll none of it.” (Macbeth) V:3:49 cavalier reaction to news of Lady Macbeth’s incurable illness oblivious to the cause of her mental illness; uncaring

Scene 4 Summary: The rebel Scottish forces have joined Macbeth’s army at Birnam Wood. Malcolm orders each soldier to cut down and carry a bough from the wood so as to conceal their numbers from Macbeth.

Scene 5 “I have almost forgot the taste of fears; The time has been, my senses would have cool'd 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.” (Macbeth) V:5: Macbeth acknowledges his lack of humanity, his change -Makes us question his culpability

Scene 5 “She should have died hereafter. There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow Creeps in this petty pace from day to day 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.” (Macbeth to himself) V:5: makes evident the effects Lady Macbeth's passing and the ruining of his power have had on Macbeth -insists that there is no meaning or purpose in life -there is a sense of self justification suggesting that Macbeth finds his tragic crimes to be somehow less awful because they too "signify nothing"

Scene 6 Summary: Macbeth orders Siward and his son to lead his army into battle against Macduff and his army, which has shed itself of its tree disguise.

Scene 7 “But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born.” (Macbeth) V:7:17-18 “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.” (Macduff) V:7: Macbeth’s ironic courage - Contrasting versions of manliness

Scene 8 “Of all men else I have avoided thee: But get thee back; my soul is too much charged With blood of thine already.” (Macbeth) V:8:5-7 -MACBETH’S HUMANITY?!?!

Scene 8 “Producing forth the cruel ministers Of this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen, Who, as 'tis thought, by self and violent hands 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.” (Malcolm) V:8: What next? -The Macbeths’ legacy -Just Monarchy?