Act Five

Act Five Analysis

Scene 1

  • Lady Macbeth’s Guilt: Lady Macbeth, once the instigator of Macbeth’s cruelties, now succumbs to guilt and sleepwalks, revealing her tormented conscience through her conversations.
  • Sleepwalking Soliloquy: Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene divulges her culpability for King Duncan’s murder, which she re-enacts in her sleep.
  • Doctor and Gentlewoman’s Observations: Their shock and distress emphasise the gravity of Lady Macbeth’s guilt-ridden state of mind.

Scene 2

  • Scottish Forces Mobilising: The Scottish nobles gather forces in a unified attempt to oust Macbeth, revealing the collective dissatisfaction with his tyrannical rule.
  • Macbeth’s Overconfidence: Despite the imminent threats, Macbeth’s unyielding belief in the witches’ prophecies make him complacent.

Scene 3

  • Macbeth’s Delusion: Macbeth’s reliance on the witches’ prophecies demonstrates his delusion, as he misinterprets their predictions as proof of his invincibility.
  • Frenzied Preparations: The activity and chaos in the castle reflect Macbeth’s psychological turmoil.

Scene 4

  • Birnam Wood’s Advance: The English forces advancing towards Dunsinane under camouflage, the sight of which terrifies Macbeth as it appears that Birnam Wood is, indeed, moving to Dunsinane, as per the witches’ prophecy.

Character Analysis

  • Lady Macbeth: Lady Macbeth’s guilt and regret become her downfall, showing her inability to deal with the consequences of her ambitions.
  • Macbeth: Macbeth’s confidence in his total security becomes his horror and failure in the end when he sees the prophecies having double meanings.

Themes Analysis

  • Guilt and Consequences: Lady Macbeth’s torment serves as a stark reminder of the guilty conscience’s repercussions on mental well-being.
  • Misinterpretation and Reality: Macbeth’s misunderstanding of the witches’ prophecies ultimately leads to his doom.

Symbolism

  • Sleepwalking: Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking represents the haunting nature of guilt.
  • Moving Birnam Wood: The moving Birnam Wood symbolises the inevitable downfall of Macbeth foretold by prophecies, and signifies impending change.