Macbeth Act 5, Scene 5

Macbeth is inside Dunsinane castle still confident that no matter what Malcolm's soldiers try, they can never kill him. He is speaking of his invincibility when a woman screams within the castle. Seyton, Macbeth's servant, goes to see what the noise was about. While he is gone Macbeth confesses that he has been a part of such great evil and seen such terrible sights that such screams no longer startle him. Seyton returns to tell Macbeth that Lady Macbeth has died. The king says that she should have died at a time when he could mourn her. "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." Act 5, Scene 5, lines 23-8

Topic Tracking: Guilt 10

A messenger runs in to tell Macbeth that as shocking as it seems, it looks as if Birnam wood itself is approaching Dunsinane. Macbeth begins to panic at the news because the prophecy of his downfall is beginning to unfold. He orders his men to put on their armor and prepare to fight so that at least they will die wearing their armor.

Topic Tracking: Foreshadowing 9