Macbeth · Chapter
Scene VI explained
Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and their army arrive before Dunsinane Castle.
What happens
Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and their army arrive before Dunsinane Castle. They drop the leafy boughs they used for camouflage, revealing their true numbers. Malcolm assigns battle positions, and Macduff orders the trumpets to sound, signaling the imminent attack against Macbeth.
Themes in this chapter
Kingship and Tyranny
The army's advance against Macbeth frames him as a tyrant whose rule must be overthrown by rightful forces.
Appearance vs. Reality
The soldiers drop their leafy screens, revealing their true identity and intentions—a literal shedding of disguise.
Characters to notice
- Malcolm
Leads the army, gives battle orders, and prepares to confront Macbeth.
- Siward
Appointed to lead the first battle alongside his son.
- Macduff
Assigned with Malcolm to command the remaining forces; orders trumpets to sound.
- Young Siward
Mentioned as Siward's right-noble son, part of the first battle.
Key passages
“Now near enough: your leavy screens throw down, And show like those you are.”
We are close enough now: drop the leafy branches you're holding and reveal yourselves as the soldiers you truly are.
Malcolm orders the army to discard their camouflage, fulfilling the witches' prophecy that Birnam Wood would come to Dunsinane.
“Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath, Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.”
Sound every trumpet; let them blast with full force, as noisy heralds of the bloodshed and death to come.
Macduff commands the trumpets to announce the attack, emphasizing the impending violence.