MACBETH ACT 5

In Act 5, Scene 1 of Macbeth, the sleepwalking scene, also known as the "Doctor
and Gentlewoman" scene, takes place in Dunsinane. It reveals Lady Macbeth’s
psychological unraveling and guilt over her role in the murders.
The scene opens with a Gentlewoman (a maid) and a Doctor observing Lady
Macbeth, who has been sleepwalking. The Gentlewoman is concerned about her
strange behavior and asks the Doctor to watch. They both see Lady Macbeth
enter, rubbing her hands as if trying to wash them, and muttering to herself.
As she sleepwalks, Lady Macbeth reveals her inner turmoil. She talks about the
murders of King Duncan, Banquo, and others, showing how she is tormented by
guilt. She says, "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" as she imagines bloodstains on
her hands that she cannot wash away. Her words reflect her obsession with the
bloodshed and her inability to cleanse herself of the guilt.
Lady Macbeth’s delusions worsen as she recounts the details of the murders and
expresses fear about being caught, which reflects her psychological breakdown.
She believes that the stains on her hands are permanent and that no matter how
hard she tries, she cannot rid herself of the bloodshed.
The Doctor and Gentlewoman, horrified by her behavior, realize that Lady
Macbeth is beyond help. The Doctor states that she needs spiritual, not medical,
intervention, and the Gentlewoman agrees that her mind is deeply disturbed.
And doctor tells gentlewoman to remove anything she could use to hurt herself.
The scene ends with Lady Macbeth exiting, still sleepwalking, and the Doctor
expressing that her condition is hopeless. This scene is a powerful moment in the
play, highlighting Lady Macbeth's guilt and the mental and emotional
consequences of her involvement in the murders. It marks the culmination of her
descent into madness, in stark contrast to her earlier ruthlessness and ambition
in the play.
Themes:
1. Helplessness

Her repeated attempts to "wash away" the bloodstains show that she feels
helpless in trying to rid herself of the moral consequences of her actions.
The Doctor, who observes Lady Macbeth's behaviour, acknowledges that
her condition is beyond medical treatment. He realizes that her suffering is
psychological and that she needs spiritual or moral intervention, not
physical healing.

2. Guilt and psychological descent

Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking and compulsive hand-washing symbolize her

The scene illustrates the theme of madness, particularly the psychological

4. Consequences of ambition
The scene highlights the destructive effects of unchecked ambition. Lady
Macbeth, who once pushed Macbeth to murder to seize power, is now
consumed by the consequences of their actions. Her guilt shows how the
pursuit of power can lead to moral corruption and mental destruction.
Her conscience is rebelling against the unnatural fiend that ambition has turned
her into.
Instead of allowing her to suppress her guilt and move on, her conscience is
fighting back, forcing her to confront the moral consequences of her actions,
leading to her mental and emotional breakdown.

Act 5 Scene 2
Menteith: English army is near, led by Malcolm, his uncle Siward, and Macduff.
The desire for revenge burns in them. Their reasons for wanting revenge would
cause even dead men to rise and rush to battle.
Angus: We’ll meet them near Birnam Wood. That’s the way they’re coming.
With the mention of Birnam Wood and Dunsinane, the audience can see that
Macbeth's fate is approaching.
Donalbain isn’t with them, but Young Siward and many boys too young to even
have beards who are ready to proclaim their manhood in battle.
Macbeth is fortifying his castle at Dunsinane with strong defences. Some say he’s
insane. Those who hate him less call it noble fury. One thing is certain: he can’t
control himself or his anger.
The soldiers fighting for him are just following his orders, and not
fighting for him out of love.
Macbeth's efforts to maintain power through violence have, in fact,
turned people against him and made him weak.
His kingship is compared to a dwarf trying to wear the robes of a giant.
Malcolm is compared to the medicine that will cure the sick country
(Scotland)

Act 5 Scene 3
Macbeth dismisses any further reports of threats against him, feeling invincible
due to the witches' prophecy. He believes he is safe because he interprets the
prophecy to mean that no man born of a woman can harm him. This moment
highlights Macbeth's growing arrogance and false sense of security.
Servant tells him there are 10k soldiers of the English army
Seyton! I’m sick at heart when I see—Seyton, come here!—This battle will either
secure my place forever or knock me from my throne. I have lived long
enough. The path of my life now leads me toward withering and death, like a
yellowing leaf. And I cannot hope to have those things that should be a part of
old age, like honour, love, obedience, and loyal friends. Instead, men curse me,
quietly but with profound hate; people honour me with words but not in their
hearts. My heart would happily end my life, and yet does not dare to do it.
Seyton!
He knows his life is awful, but he's so gripped by ambition that he can't turn
back.
Seyton comes, confirms the rumours of 10k soldiers

Act 5 Scene 4
Malcolm devises the idea of cutting down the branches from the trees in Birnam
Wood and carry them in front of them as they march towards Dunsinane, to
make it difficult for Macbeth’s spies to get an accurate count of the number of
soldiers in their army.
The first block in Macbeth's fate falls into place: Birnam Wood will
march on Dunsinane.

Act 5 Scene 5
Macbeth is being defensive and not attacking because he believes his castle is
strong enough to endure a siege, and the enemy will eventually succumb to
hunger and disease. Additionally, many of his own soldiers have defected to the
opposing side, leaving him with a weakened force and making a direct
confrontation riskier.
This passage highlights Macbeth's descent into moral numbness and
desensitization to violence and fear. Once a man capable of feeling fear and
guilt, he has now become so consumed by bloodshed and evil deeds that such
emotions no longer affect him. This transformation signifies the complete loss of
his humanity, showing how unchecked ambition and guilt have hardened him
into a remorseless figure.
Macbeth has become so numb because of his own terrible actions that
he can't even react when his wife dies. All he can do is comment on how
meaningless life is.
He thinks life is a story told by an idiot, full of noise and emotion,
without any meaning.
The prophecy gives Macbeth courage, but also makes his life empty. He
almost seems to look forward to dying.

Act 5 Scene 6
Malcolm orders his men to throw down the branches they carry. The first charge
against Dunsinane commences under Siward and Macduff.

Act 5 Scene 7
Young siward claims he’d not be afraid to hear macbeth’s name even if he called
himself a name more evil than any devil in hell.
Macbeth says name, Siward says devil couldn’t tell him a name that he hates
more
Macbeth claims his name is the most frightening
In the fighting, Macbeth encounters and fights Young Siward. Though Young
Siward is brave, Macbeth quickly kills him and says in a mocking tone that he
fears no man of woman born.
This is a reminder of the second half of the prophecy protecting Macbeth.
macduff hears trumpet
he claims that if macbeth doesn’t die to his sword, then the ghosts of his wife
and children will haunt him forever (means he will not have taken revenge)
now macbeth’s soldiers are fighting both sides, deliberately trying to miss when
they strike at Malcolm and gang
TLDR: Macduff searches for Macbeth, vowing to kill him to avenge his family.
Malcolm and Siward meet. They have easily captured the castle
because Macbeth's men barely fight back.

Act 5 Scene 8
Macbeth doesn’t want to play the roman fool (act like some ancient roman fool)
and commit suicide by stabbing himself. As long as he sees living enemies, he’d
rather wound them than to be wounded.
Macbeth and Macduff meet. Macbeth says he has avoided fighting Macduff
because he has too much blood(of Macduff’s family) on his (Macbeth’s) hands
already.
They fight. Macbeth mocks Macduff, saying his effort is wasted: no one of woman
born can beat Macbeth. But Macduff replies that he was "untimely ripped" from
his mother's womb"
The second block of Macbeth's fate slides into place.
Macbeth, suddenly fearful now that the prophecy has turned against him, refuses
to fight him. But Macduff calls Macbeth a coward and says that Macbeth will be
mocked across Scotland if he surrenders. Despite certain death, Macbeth
attacks. Macduff kills him.
Macbeth dies as he lived—a slave to ambition. Lady Macbeth convinced him to
sacrifice his honour by questioning his courage, now Macduff gets Macbeth to
fight for a lost cause to prove his courage.
Malcolm, Siward, Ross, and others enter. Ross tells Siward of Young Siward's
death. Siward asks if his son died from wounds on the front or back. Ross replies
the front. Siward is content, denying Malcolm's comment that his son is worth
more mourning than that.
Macduff enters, carrying Macbeth’s severed head. He proclaims Malcolm to be
King of Scotland and swears his loyalty.
Malcolm accepts the thanes' loyalty and makes them all earls (a higher rank).
He pledges to "plant" a new peace, and to heal the wounds Macbeth and his
"fiend-like queen" inflicted on Scotland.
Malcolm returns Scotland to political order, as his use of nature metaphors
shows. Malcolm wants to make his country great, not himself.