| Who observes Lady Macbeth during the night? What do they see Lady Macbeth doing? | The doctor and servant observe Lady Macbeth during the night. They see her sleepwalking & talking about her crimes, and see he rubbing her hands, and folding and unfolding the letter from Macbeth. |
| What does Lady Macbeth say about King Duncan, Banquo, and Thane of Fife? | Lady Macbeth says about the death of Duncan (“the old man” who “had so much blood in him”), Banquo’s (“buried… he cannot come out of his grave), and “the Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?”. |
| According to the doctor, what has caused Lady Macbeth’s unnatural behavior? What is he planning to do about what he witnesses? | The doctor says she is heavy bordered, behavior caused by disease. The doctor plans on staying silent for fear of Macbeth. |
| “Out, damned spot! out, I say! “ | -Lady Macbeth-Herself-Nothing can “wash away” the blood on her hands |
| “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” | -Lady Macbeth-Herself-She is trying to mask the smell of murder instead of washing it away(whats done cannot be undone) |
| According to the opposing thanes, what advantage do their forces have over Macbeth’s forces? | The opposing thanes have a just cause that urges them to battle. Their forces aren’t paid, they have heart. Also, Scotland people will show support for the English army invading scotland to overthrow Macbeth. |
| What comparison does Angus make to explain that Macbeth is not fit to be king? | He compares Macbeth to a dwarf-sized thief wearing a giant’s robe, he isn’t fit to fill Duncan’s shoes as king. |
| According to Caithness, what medicine will heal Scotland? | The medicine that will heal Scotland is the blood of the invading forces. Pure blood=purify land. |
| “…now does he feel his title / Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe / Upon a dwarfish thief.” | He doesn’t fill the shoes of which Duncan once filled, he’s not suit for the job. |
| What two prophecies appear to comfort Macbeth? How is his confidence affected by the servant? | No man born of woman shall harm Macbeth, and “have no fear till Birnam Woods comes to Dunsinane Hill”. Macbeth’s confidence is fighting it out – angry that anyone is fearful around him, punches Seton, sees fear as a weakness. |
| What does Macbeth demand from an ironically named officer? What does this reveal about Macbeth’s mental state? | He asks for the latest news and demands his armor. Mental state: comfort zone on battlefield – he’s going back to his old ways – fighting again. |
| What two tasks does Macbeth request from the doctor? What do this requests reveal about Macbeth’s mental state? | Asks doctor to cure Lady M of her hallucinations. Also asks the doctor to diagnose what is wrong with Scotland and asks him to heal it. Shows he knows there are problems w/ Scotland but doesn’t know he is the reason why. (Doesn’t spend a lot of time speaking about Lady M and he illness. Talks about Scotland and himself more) (Reveals he is self-centered and not aware he is cause of problems in country) |
| What does Malcolm tell his soldiers to do? What is the significance of this? | He tells them to cut off branches and to use them as camouflage, this is significant because it shows that the wood are moving towards Dunsinane as the prophecies said |
| What does Malcolm say about Macbeth’s forces? | Macbeth’s forces aren’t invested, they are being paid. Soldiers on Macbeth’s side are going to Malcolm’s. |
| What does Old Siward say about the approaching battle? | They should not assume that the battle is won already and that they should settle everything out in the battlefield.They have no news except that overconfident Macbeth is still in Dunsinane and will allow them to lay siege to the castle. |
| What is Macbeth’s plan for dealing with the invaders? Why has he been forced to choose this plan? | Macbeth plans to stay in Inverness and defend. Many of his men have gone over to the other side to fight with Malcolm and Macduff. He sits back and thinks everything is fine because of the prophecy that reassures him. |
| What is Macbeth’s reaction to someone screaming? Why is Macbeth troubled by his response? | His reaction is not to go see what the problem was/not affected, it’s that he hardly reacted which troubled him because he does not care like he used to before the witches. |
| What philosophy or idea about life does Macbeth put forward in his soliloquy ? | He feels like we are just “dust in the wind”People in past can’t give meaningpresent is shorttrudge day by dayevery life ends with a death |
| How is a prophecy fulfilled in this scene? How is Macbeth’s reaction a contradiction to the previous soliloquy? | Birnam woods is coming to Dunsinane. Soldiers wearing camo are bringing woods to castle. |
Macbeth Act 5
September 7, 2019