# Scene V explained — Macbeth

> Chapter companion for Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Macbeth prepares for siege at Dunsinane, learns of Lady Macbeth's death, delivers the 'Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow' soliloquy, and receives news that Birnam Wood appears to be moving, which shakes his resolve.

## Themes in this chapter

### Guilt and Conscience

Macbeth's numbness to horror ('I have supp'd full with horrors') and his nihilistic response to Lady Macbeth's death reveal the deadening of conscience through accumulated guilt.

### Fate vs. Free Will

Macbeth grapples with the witches' equivocation as Birnam Wood moves, questioning whether fate or deception drives his downfall.

### Appearance vs. Reality

The moving wood appears to fulfill the prophecy but is actually a trick; Macbeth's confidence in the castle's strength is undermined by the messenger's report.

## Character check-ins

### Macbeth

Orders banners hung, reacts to Lady Macbeth's death with nihilistic soliloquy, then confronts the moving wood prophecy.

### Seyton

Reports the cry of women and later informs Macbeth of the queen's death.

### Lady Macbeth

Reported dead offstage; her death prompts Macbeth's famous soliloquy.

### Messenger

Brings news of Birnam Wood appearing to move, challenging Macbeth's belief in the witches' prophecy.

## Key lines

> To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. 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.

Each day creeps by slowly until time ends; our past only leads us toward death. Life is fleeting and meaningless, like a bad actor on stage or a story told by a fool—full of noise and anger but ultimately pointless.

_Macbeth's despairing reflection on the futility of life after learning of Lady Macbeth's death._

> I pull in resolution, and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood Do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood Comes toward Dunsinane.

I lose my courage and start to suspect the devil's deceptive words that seemed true: 'Fear nothing until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane'—and now a forest is moving toward Dunsinane.

_Macbeth realizes the witches' prophecy may be tricking him as Birnam Wood appears to advance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-v
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters