Macbeth
ACT FIVE QUESTIONS
Scene One
1. Why is the doctor unable to help Lady Macbeth?
The doctor is unable to help Lady Macbeth as she has a mental, and not physical illness.
Therefore he does not know how to treat and help her. The doctor even states “More needs
the divine than the physician.” During the time that the play is set, mental health and
psychologists did not really exist. So Lady Macbeth is left to wither in her own mental
deterioration (similar to Macbeth).
2. What is ironic in this scene? For example, compare Lady Macbeth’s words here with her
rebuke of Macbeth’s feelings in Act 1, scene 7 and Act 3, scene 4.
It is ironic that here, Lady Macbeth shows remorse and regret for her violence and actions,
while she has been unforgiving and aggressive throughout the play. For example, she shows
fear of going to hell, saying “Hell is murky”. This is ironic as she dismissed Macbeth’s fear of
the divine earlier in the play. To add, she speaks of Macduff’s family, showing remorse. This is
ironic as she does not care about family earlier in the play, saying she would bash her own
children’s heads for power.
Scene Two
1. What do we learn about Macbeth from the dialogue among the army leaders?
We learn that the public views Macbeth as mad as he is now revealed as an unworthy king,
violent and unorganized. He has fallen far, as his soilders follow him out of duty, and people
know of his murders.
Scene Three
1. Imagine Macbeth’s psychological conflict. In lines 21 - 28, give examples from his list of the
honors which heroes are supposed to receive in their old age. In contrast, do Macbeth’s hopes
for himself help you understand why he is considered a tragic hero?
Macbeth thinks that heroes should be loved, respected, and obeyed with old age, however, as
king he is aware of his loss of these honors.
Macbeth is a tragic hero, as he was once great and well respected, having good intentions
and goals for his country. However, he has fallen far, as the actions he has taken to lead to
power and satisfy his ambition have ruined his mental health. He is now a mad tyrant king,
violent and paranoid. Macbeth had a lot of potential as a hero, however, his deep ambition
and his willingness to feed his hunger has sruined him.
Scene Four to Five
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Macbeth
ACT FIVE QUESTIONS
1. What prophecy does the news of Birnam Wood prove false? Does Macbeth accept the
inevitable or decide to fight on?
The witch’s prophecy that Macbeth will not be conquered until Birnam woods marches
towards Dunsinane castle proves true in his scene. Maclom fulfills this by commanding each
soldier to carry trees of Birnam wood to conceal themselves as they march towards
Dunsinane.
At the start of the battle, Macbeth is confident in his siege. However, he soon loses this feeling
as he hears the prophecy has been fulfilled and that his wife has died. Macbeth does not
accept the inevitable as he vows to fight until his death.
Scene Six to Seven
1. What does Macbeth say about the prediction when he kills young Siward?
Macbeth emphasizes that he cannot be killed by a man born from a woman which leads him
to be fearless on the battlefield, as everyone is born from a woman's womb.
Scene 8
1. Here you see Macbeth and Macduff engaged in conflict. Can you find any qualities of the
hero in Macbeth? What about his attitude toward a) fighting with Macduff? b) suicide? c)
yielding when defeated?
Macbeth acts heroic as he is approached by Macduff starting, “my soul is too much charged
With blood of thine already”. Here, Macbeth shows remorse for the murder of Macduff’s family
as Macbeth does not want to kill Macduff.
a) Macbeth is confident at first when he is fighting Macduff, saying he cannot be killed by
anyone of woman-born. He is arrogant and flaunts that he is invincible according to
the witch’s prophecy.
b) c) However, once Macduff reveals he was birthed prematurely, Macbeth loses his
confidence. Macduff suggests that he yields. Macbeth does not want to be a coward
(suicide and yielding and not viable options as a “man”), and therefore his only option
is to fight to the death. Macbeth and Macduff fight, and Macbeth dies.
2. Summarize the outcome of the play by explaining what has happened to the Macbeths. Who
is now to become the king of Scotland?
After Macbeth’s death, Malcolm succeeds him as rightful king.
The outcome of the play emphasizes the theme of naturel order. Macbeth disrupted this order,
as they murdered the king who is on the highest level. Therefore, destruction ensued as
Macbeth ruined Scotland as a tyrant king. However, all becomes right as in the end. King
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Macbeth
ACT FIVE QUESTIONS
Duncan’s true successor, Malcom, ends up on the throne as the Macbeths are dead.
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