Brief Overall Summary -

Most of the setting in act 5 takes place at the castle of Dunsinane. The gentlewoman reports to the doctor that Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking. Her behaviour is very strange. She gets out of bed, goes to her closet, dresses in her nightwear and writes on a piece of paper. She seals the letter and returns to bed. In the second scene, the Scottish Lords come together to join forces with the English Army against Macbeth which angered Macbeth. At the Castle of Dunsinane Macbeth held fast to the witches prophesies, which offer him invincibility, all the while displaying his anger. As the play progresses in scent 5: 4, the Malcolm’s army and the army of England prepares for battle against Macbeth. As the armies advance, Macbeth is greeted with the news that Lady Macbeth is dead and further news that Malcolm and his armies are advancing. This news puts Macbeth in a state of despair and anger all the while he fails to accept his inevitable downfall. The battle begins outside the castle. Malcolm commands his troops to drop their branches and draw their swords. As the battle rages, Macbeth strikes out at those around him, hitting them as a mad man believing that no one can harm him. He kills Siward’s son and escapes in the midst of the disorder. Macduff comes forth looking for Macbeth with whom he has a score to settle and wants to destroy him personally. He cannot find him and rejoin the battle. In the final scenes of Act 5, Macbeth and Macduff fight, he tells Macbeth that he is not born of a woman but he was “ripped from his mother’s womb” (5:10:16) which causes Macbeth to fearful for his life. This is not enough, however, to cause Macbeth to surrender. He kisses the ground at Malcolm’s feet and departs the fighting. The castle is now captured by Malcolm and as he walks through the castle, Macduff re-appears with Macbeth’s head. Malcolm is now in authority and makes some declarations. He curses Macbeth and calls the people his friends; extending an invitation for them to join him at his coronation.