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- Macbeth is killed: his death is almost a relief for the audience
- Morals can be installed back into Scotland
Good, concise comments. Obviously, scene five is central to our understanding of Macbeth's character.
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