Act five: Violence

Act five

Violence---»

Lady Macbeth’s speech about ‘the spot’ p. 82-83

Shows that she feels guilty for what has been done and all the acts of violence that she has been part of. So it’s a sort of flashback to all the acts of violence that they have comited

Macbeth: “I’ll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hacked.

Give me my armor.” p.87 (33-34)

Macbeth is saying that he wants to participate in the war because he is confident that he will not die and he will keep going until he is slaughtered.

Siward: “But certain issue strokes must arbitrate

Towards which advance the war” p.89 (20-21)

Siward is saying that the outcome of things need to be settled through battle so they need to keep going towards Macbeth until he is dead and war has settled everything.

Macduff: “Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death” p.92 (10)

This is making the analogy that the trumpets mentioned earlier inthe passage are messengers of death and violence because they guide the war.

Macbeth: “Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,

Till famine cling thee.” p.91 (39-40)

Macbeth is making a threat that the next person to bring him a report of the upcoming war will be hung and left to starve; a very violent way to die.

“Fight, and Young Siward slain” p.93

Macbeth kills Young Siward with his sword while they are dueling.

Macbeth: “Why should I play the Roman fool and die

On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives,the gashes

Do better upon them.” p.94 (1-3)

Macbeth was contemplating suicide but decides that, even if the prophecy of the witches say that he’s going to be slaughtered, he will fight and try to beat the odds.

“Enter Macduff, with Macbeth’s head.” p.96

They’ve taken away all of his honour by dismembering and taking his head as a trophy.

“(RE-) enter fighting and Macbeth slain.” p.95

Macbeth dies at the hands of Macduff in  their duel

Malcom: “Of this dead butcher and his fiendlike queen,

Who, as ‘tis thought, by self and violent hands

took off her life-” p.97 (69-71)

Malcom says that Lady Macbeth has commited suicide.