Macbeth Act 5
A waiting-gentlewoman to the Queen brings a doctor to observe the Queen’s sleepwalking. She tells the doctor that the Queen has been sleepwalking since Macbeth went to war, and they watch Lady Macbeth come out of her room and act as if she’s washing her hands. The gentlewoman comments that she has sometimes seen the queen perform the same action several times in her sleep. Lady Macbeth acts as if she’s talking to Macbeth after the murder of Duncan, and she then mentions the death of Macduff’s wife. She also mentions the murder of Banquo, and both the doctor and the gentlewoman are shocked at the revelations. The doctor comments that people with a guilty conscience can act deranged and that he has no means of curing her through medicine. He is visibly upset and departs after asking the gentlewoman to ensure that Lady Macbeth doesn’t have access to anything that can bring her harm.
The thanes of Scotland are gathered to discuss the advancing English army led by Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and several other young Scottish noblemen. The Thanes agree that Macbeth has lost control due to the guilt of his crimes. Macbeth is currently fortifying his defenses at Dunisnane, while the soldiers that follow him are only doing so out of custom rather than love. The Thanes agree that they should serve Malcolm since he is more deserving of their loyalty, and so decide to march to Brinam woods, where they hope to join the attacking force.
Macbeth shouts at the attendants and tells them to bring him no more reports of the war. He curses the Thanes who have deserted him and feels certain that Malcolm is no threat to him since he was born to a woman. He learns that the ten-thousand strong army of the English is marching towards his castle, and asks one of his attendants to help him don his armor. Macbeth laments that old age hasn’t brought him any of the usual pleasures but that he is surrounded by those that curse him under their breath even as they follow his orders. He inquires about the health of his wife from the doctor, who tells him that Lady Macbeth has a feeling of sorrow in her that keeps her from sleeping. The doctor explains that he isn’t able to help Lady Macbeth since it's a mental malady, one that she needs to overcome herself. Macbeth commands for more cavalry to be sent out into the surrounding countryside, and orders for the soldiers to hang anyone who spreads fear. Macbeth leaves the doctor, who expresses his desire to be anywhere else except the castle at Dunisnane.
Malcolm is joined by the Thanes, and orders all the men to cut off branches from the trees in the Brinam forest so that Macbeth doesn’t receive an accurate estimate of their numbers. Siward is convinced that Macbeth intends for them to lay a siege to his castle, and Malcolm expresses the hope that Macbeth’s soldiers will desert him at the first opportunity. The army continues its march toward Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth is determined to let the army siege his castle since too many of his men have deserted him to allow him to mount an offense. He hears the crying of women, and learns that Lady Macbeth has died, Macbeth is shaken by the news but admits that his wife was bound to die like all living things. A shocked messenger enters and tells Macbeth that he saw the Brinam woods move and march towards Dunisnane. Macbeth begins to doubt the prophecies of the witches and calls them the devil. He tells his men that there is now no point in running away or staying put and that he’d rather meet his end in battle. He commands his soldiers to prepare for a battle, and orders the ringing of the alarm bells.
Malcolm charges Siward and his son to lead the first battle, while he and Macduff would handle the rest. Macbeth meets Siward’s son and easily slays him in combat as he fears no man that is born of a woman. Macduff searches desperately for Macbeth with the resolve that he’ll kill no one but him who had his wife and children murdered. Siward reports that a large number of Macbeth’s soldiers have deserted him, and now fight for them. He tells his king that the castle was surrendered rather easily and that the conclusion of the battle is not far away. Macbeth wishes to die fighting and meets Macduff. He tells him to leave as his hands are already bloody with the death of Macduff’s family. Macduff charges at him but fails to land a strike, and Macbeth loudly claims that he cannot be harmed by anyone born from a woman. Macduff yells back that Macbeth's charm will not work on him, since he was taken from his mother’s womb through cesarean surgery. Macbeth laments being fooled by the riddles of the Witches and refuses to fight, and so Macduff orders him to surrender. Macbeth refuses to do so and is determined to fight even if the prophecies have all been fulfilled. Macbeth’s soldiers surrender to Malcolm's army, and he leads the victorious army into the castle. The noblemen report that Macduff and Siward remain unaccounted, while the Thane of Ross informs Siward that his son had been killed in combat. Siward is glad to learn that his son died in combat with wounds on his front side. Macduff brings Malcolm the severed head of the tyrant and hails him as the King of Scotland. Malcolm promotes all his thanes to the rank of Earls and informs them of his intent to restore order to Scotland. He comments that it is rumored that Lady Macbeth killed herself.
Analysis
Macbeth's character serves as the protagonist of the play, as the audience follows him carve a bloody path to the throne of Scotland. If Macbeth is the protagonist, then every other character who opposes him is the antagonist of the play. Malcolm and Macduff are important antagonists but Macbeth himself is the greatest antagonist of all since his actions eventually have the greatest impact on him. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a victorious Scottish general who is rewarded with a new title. He is favored by the King and considered a member of his close circle, and yet he allows his ambition to override his morals. He brings utter ruin to himself by betraying his loyalty to Duncan and pursuing a concentrated spree of murderous violence.
The final act establishes Lady Macbeth as another victim of Macbeth, as the audience learns of the frenzied lamentations that visit her in sleep. She ambles around her room, attempting to wash away the bloodstains from Duncan's murder, and wonders about the fate of Lady Macduff. It becomes evident that she is terrified of the violence that Macbeth has unleashed upon Scotland. Her comment about Lady Macduff's fate is particularly interesting as it suggests that she is beginning to realize her own vulnerable position concerning Macbeth.
The play ends with the characters hailing Malcolm as the new King of Scotland as Macduff brings his king the severed head of the tyrant Macbeth. Malcolm finally resolves the link between masculinity and cruelty repeatedly made throughout the play. In the earlier act, the readers see Malcolm make the same connection as he attempts to console a mourning Macduff to take the loss of his family as a man. Macduff famously replies that he will surely act like a man but he must also feel the loss of his family as a man. Malcolm displays his ability to grow as he adopts a changed attitude upon learning of the death of his cousin, little Siward. Malcolm's uncle, Siward, seems to feel very little sadness upon learning of his death as he is satisfied that his son lost his life in battle. Malcolm believes that his cousin was worthy of more grief than his uncle had expressed and so claims that he will mourn for him.
