Macbeth, Act 5

Scene 1

• Lady Macbeth's insanity caused by guilt
• is Lady Macbeth repeating conversations? or does she see Banquo's ghost?
• repetition of washing hands

Scene 2

• informed that battle will begin soon
• short scene - increasing pace, building up to the battle. excitement.

Scene 3

• opens with Macbeth preparing for battle

Scene 4

• witches prophecy of the woods moving toward the castle is fulfilled.
• Macduff and the English army at Birnhamwood

Scene 5:

• Lady Macbeth dies: Macbeth is unemotional, he comments on how pointless life.
• Macbeth has an epiphany - he thought all the bad things he had done were leading to something, but he realises that they were pointless
• "life's but a walking shadow... upon the stage." Life is brief and death is inevitable.
• Macbeth realises the witches didn't play a big a part as he thought
• Macbeth is a puppet for the witches
• His character is emotionally empty - sympathy from audience
• he knows he is facing death: this is his final admission of all his mistakes and regrets

Scene 6

• English army approach castle.
• Short scene - anticipation for the battle

Scene 7 - 10

• battle in the castle.

Scene 11

• Macbeth is killed: his death is almost a relief for the audience
• Morals can be installed back into Scotland