English 20-1 Macbeth Act 4/5 Test

scene summaries Act 4 scene 1

Opens on the witches in a cave, prepping a new spell. Eventually, they realize that Macbeth is coming, and one of them warns the others by saying that “something wicked this way comes.”

Macbeth asks them to tell him more, and they summon three apparitions to tell him: the first is a floating head, telling Macbeth to beware of Macduff. Macbeth says that he already kinda knew that, but keeps watching. The second apparition is a bloody child, who informs Macbeth that none of woman born shall harm Macbeth (to anybody born naturally, he is invincible). The third apparition is a crowned child carrying a branch, who tells him that he will reign securely until the Birnam Woods march on Dunsinane.

A fourth and final apparition, a procession of 8 kings, each resembling Banquo, who stands at the end with a mirror. Macbeth demands to know the meaning of the final apparition, but the witches vanish and Lennox enters. He tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England, so Macbeth sends murders after his wife and kids.

Scene summaries Act 4 scene 2

Opens on Macduff’s castle, where Lady Macduff is asking Ross why the huzz has left. She is distraught, but Ross comforts her before leaving (he ain’t a hoe), saying that he trusts Macduff’s judgement. Lady Macduff turns to her son and tells him that his father is dead, but the boy declares that he actually isn’t. Then a messenger comes in, warning Lady Macduff that there are murders after them, urging her to leave. She protests, saying that she has done no wrong. The murdered enter, and start defaming Macduff. His son argues, and they kill him. Then Lady Macduff fless, the murders chasing after her (they get her).

scene summaries Act 4 scene 3

Malcolm and Macduff are chatting outside of King Edward’s palace in England, and Malcolm admits that he does not trust Macduff, as he could be working with Macbeth. To determine if he is trustworthy, Malcolm lists off all of his vices, caliming that he is unfit to rule. Macduff agrees, saying that maybe he shouldn’t, passing the test. Malcolm retracts his lies, and they are now allies.

Ross enters, and tells Macduff that his children and wife are well. Then he urges Malcolm to come back to Scotland and claim the throne, saying how awful Macbeth is. Malcolm says that he will, and that hewill bring ten thousand soldiers from the English King’s army. Then he can no longer hold the secret, and informs Macduff that his wife and kids were actually murdered on Macbeth’s orders. Macduff breaks down, and is told to express his grief like a man, to which he says he is (fucking king), and then, with some urging from Malcolm, redirects his grief into rage against Macbeth, swearing on his vengeance.

scene summaries Act 5 scene 1

Opens on Macbeth’s (new) castle in Dunsinane (switched because easier to defend), where a maid and a doctor are discussing Lady Macbeth’s new sleepwalking habit. The maid asked the doctor to watch with her, as repeating what Lady Macbeth says could be sorta treasonous. Lady Macbeth enters, holding a candle and whispering about the murders of Duncan, Banquo, and Lady Macduff (mostly duncan tho). She fiddles with her hands, almost washing them, and saying that she can’t get the blood off no matter what she does. (Duncan’s blood, she’s reliving the murder night). She heads back to bed, and the doctor tells the maid that he can’t treat her madness, but that she should watch her, as he’s seen this be a precursor to suicide.

scene summaries Act 5 scene 2

Outside of Dunsinane, a group of scottish lords discuss their plans. The english army, led by malcolm will meet them by Birnam Wood, to join forces. They discuss the tyrant (Macbeth), and that he has fortified the castle and is kinds losing it (rage)

scene summaries Act 5 scene 3

Macbeth (at Dunsinane hall) is confident, as he knows from the middle two apparitions (bloody child, and crowned branch child), that he knows that he cannot be harmed by any natural born man, and that he will reign until the Birnam woods attack him. An attendant, Seyton informs him that ten thousand soldiers are approaching the castle. Macbeth makes him get his armor, although the battle is still a while away. Then orders the doctor to cure Lady Macbeth.

scene summaries Act 5 scene 4

In the country near Birnam Wood, Malcolm talks with the English lord Siward and his officers about Macbeth’s plan to defend the fortified castle. They decide that each soldier should cut down a bough of the forest and carry it in front of him as they march to the castle, thereby disguising their numbers. (Birnam wood will march against Dunsinane hill.)

scene summaries Act 5 scene 5

Within the castle, Macbeth blusteringly orders that banners be hung and boasts that his castle will repel the enemy. A woman’s cry is heard, and Seyton appears to tell Macbeth that the queen is dead. Macbeth goes into his famous soliloquy about the futility of life. Then a messenger enters with astonishing news: the trees of Birnam Wood are advancing toward Dunsinane. Enraged and terrified, Macbeth recalls the prophecy that said he could not die till Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane. Resignedly, he declares that he is tired of the sun (ready to die) and that at least he will die fighting.

scene summaries Act 5 scene 6-8

(6) Outside the castle, the battle commences. Malcolm orders the English soldiers to throw down their boughs and draw their swords.

(7) On the battlefield, Macbeth strikes those around him vigorously, insolent because no man born of woman can harm him. He slays young Siward and disappears into the fray. Macduff emerges and searches the chaos frantically for Macbeth, whom he longs to cut down personally. He dives again into the battle. Malcolm and Siward emerge and enter the castle, claiming the throne for Malcolm.

(8) Elsewhere on the battlefield, Macbeth at last encounters Macduff. They fight, and when Macbeth insists that he is invincible because of the witches’ prophecy, Macduff tells Macbeth that he was not of woman born, but rather “from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped” (5.8.15–16) (C-section). Macbeth suddenly fears for his life, but he declares that he will not surrender “[t]o kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet, / And to be baited with the rabble’s curse” (5.8.28–29). They exit fighting. (Macbeth is killed off-camera)

scene summaries Act 5 scene 9 (sorta still 8, some ppl combine them)

Malcolm and Siward walk together in the castle, which they have now effectively captured. Ross tells Siward that his son is dead, but Siward doesn’t really care (he has more kids). Macduff emerges with Macbeth’s head in his hand and proclaims Malcolm King of Scotland. Malcolm declares that all his thanes will be made earls, according to the English system of peerage. They will be the first such lords in Scottish history. Cursing Macbeth and his “fiend-like” queen, Malcolm calls all those around him his friends and invites them all to see him crowned at Scone (5.8.35).

important soliloquies/quotes

• “Out, damned spot; out, I say. One, two,—why, then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier and afeard? What need we fear who knows it when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?”

  • Lady Macbeth Act 5 Scene 1. these are her sleep talked murmurs about the murders. In her mind, she can’t get the blood of those they’ve killed off of her and her clothes, no matter what she tries (symbolic of forever guilt)

• “She should have died hereafter.
  There would have been a time for such a word.
  Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
  Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
  To the last syllable of recorded time.
  And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
  The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle.
  Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player
  That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
  And then is heard no more. It is a tale
  Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
  Signifying nothing.

  • Macbeth Act 5 Scene 5. This is his soliloquy after Lady Macbeth’s suicide. He realizes that all the power and things he’s done have been his undoing, and that life is lowkey worthless.

Themes Across Macbeth

• Supernatural Entities

• Blood and Death Imagery

• Masculinity

• Natural Order

• Ambition

• Appearance VS Reality

Appearance VS Reality

The hidden subversions to the prophecies (Across Act 5)

Soldiers carrying branches to hide their numbers (Act 5 scene 4) (kinda part of top one.)

natural order

(VERY MAYBE) Malcolm asking God for help in running Scotland after becoming King (Act 5 scene 8/9)

Ambition

Macbeth realizing that it was in fact, not worth it during his depression soliloquy (Act 5 Scene 5)

Masculinity

Macduff mourning his children, but in a manly way though (Act 4 scene 3)

(MAYBE) Siward not really mourning his son, not really caring because he died an honourable death, being what Malcolm expected of Macduff (Act 5 Scene 8/9)

Blood and death imagery

the entire battle over act 5 (scenes 6-8/9)

LADY MACBETHS SOLILOQUY (act 5 scene 1)

also sorta Lady Macduff and her chirren getting murked (Act 4 scene 2)

Supernatural entities

the witches, the apparitions (Act 4 scene 1)

Motifs Across Macbeth

• Clothing

• Foul is Fair

• Plant Imagery

Round characters

Characters we know lots about, who have multifaceted personalities. Ex: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth

flat characters

characters we don’t know a whole lot about. Ex: Kind Duncan, Macduff

static characters

characters who don’t change throughout the story. Ex: Macduff

dynamic characters

characters who do change throughout the story. Ex: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth

Apparition 1

Floating Head, tells Macbeth to beware of Macduff

Apparition 2

Bloody Child, tells Macbeth that none woman born (natural born) shall harm him

Apparition 3

Crowned Child with a branch, tells Macbeth that his reign will be secure until Birnam Wood marches upon Dunsinane Hill

Lady Macbeth’s Sleepwalking (Act 5 Scene 1)

She is dreaming of the murders, mostly Duncan’s, and miming washing her hands and clothes, repeatedly telling the audience that no matter what she does, she cannot get the blood (Duncan’s blood, she was smearing it) out. “Out damned spot.” The unwashable blood is symbolic of her guilt, which although she denied in the beginning, has now made her seriously mentally ill, driving her to implied suicide.