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A summary of Act 5: Scenes 1–8 in William Shakespeare's Macbeth. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of Macbeth and what it means. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans.
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5 Excite the mortified man. His uncle Siward and the good Macduff. Excite the mortified man. Shall we well meet them; that way are they coming. Who knows if Donalbain be with his brother? For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file. Of all the gentry. There is Siward’s son, Protest their first of manhood. For certain, sir, he is not. I have a file.
The main theme of Macbeth —the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints—finds its most powerful expression in the play’s two main characters. Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power and advancement.
Act 5, Scene 2 The thanes Menteith, Caithness, Angus, and Lennox march with a company of soldiers toward Birnam Wood, where they will join Malcolm and the English army. They claim that they will "purge" the country of Macbeth's sickening influence (28).
Scene 2 . Scottish Lords discuss the military situation. Macbeth: This man is poisonous, he isn’t even loved by his own soldiers, they only fight because it’s in their job description. It’s pitifully easy for the English army to infiltrate the castle, as they don’t really want to fight for the tyrant Macbeth.
Scottish troops, led by Angus, Lennox, and other soldiers, are headed toward Birnam Wood. There, they plan to meet up with Macduff, Malcolm, and their English troops. They all discuss Macbeth’s horrible leadership and the fact that he’s clearly in this for himself, rather than for Scotland.
