Act 5 Scene 3 Commentary 


Macbeth is overconfident and aggressive for much of this scene. He brashly disregards the reports of his enemies’ whereabouts and refers to the witches’ prophecies as the source of his self-belief:


‘Bring me no more reports; let them fly all: Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane, I cannot taint with fear. What's the boy Malcolm? Was he not born of woman?’


He shows his resolve to fight to the end: ‘I'll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hacked.’ 


Macbeth places great emphasis on bravery in battle and prides himself on being a courageous soldier. This leads him to cruelly rebuke the fearful looking servant, describing him as a ‘cream-faced loon’ and ‘lily-livered’. Macbeth later decrees, ‘Hang those that talk of fear.’


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However, Macbeth ismercurial (changeable) in this scene and soon lapses into amelancholic meditation on life.With a note of resignation he says, ‘I have lived long enough: my way of life / Is fall'n into the sear’. Macbeth is now world-weary and recognises the meaningless lip service paid to him (‘mouth-honour’), not out of respect, but out of fear: ‘breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not’. Macbeth is coming to understand the emptiness of his own ambition. This mounting recognition helps to earns the audience’s sympathy.


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Macbeth realises that he is a soldier, not a ruler. This is conveyed by his eagerness to discard his kingly robes and put on armour. He calls out for his battledress with great urgency and ignores Seyton’s protest that it is not needed yet: ‘Come, put mine armour on.’


Questions


1. (a) Describe Macbeth’s attitude to the pending attack of the English and Scottish thanes. (b) What has inspired this attitude?


2. Do you think Macbeth is sympathetic or unsympathetic to Lady Macbeth in this scene? Explain your answer by referring to the text.


3. Which word do you feel best describes Macbeth in this scene: brave,reckless,desperate or hopeless? Refer to the scene in your answer.


4. Explain the significance of Macbeth exchanging his kingly robes for armour. 5. How is Macbeth growing in wisdom in this scene? 6. What does the doctor mean in the final two lines of this scene?


Macbeth


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