Act 5 Scene 7 MACBETH


Thou wast born of woman


But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandished3


by man that's of a woman born.


[Exit] [Alarums. Enter MACDUFF]


MACDUFF That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face! If thou be’st slain and with no stroke of mine,4 My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still. I cannot strike at wretched kerns,5


whose arms 20


Are hired to bear their staves. Either thou, Macbeth, Or else my sword with an unbattered edge I sheathe again undeeded.6


By this great clatter, one of greatest note Seems bruited.7


And more I beg not. [Exit. Alarums] [Enter MALCOLMand SIWARD]


SIWARD This way, my lord – the castle's gently rendered.8 The tyrant's people on both sides do fight; The noble thanes do bravely in the war; The day almost itself professes yours,9 And little is to do.


MALCOLM We have met with foes


That strike beside us.10 SIWARD


30 Enter, sir, the castle. [Exeunt. Alarums] Key Quotations


MACBETH They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, / But, bear-like, I must fight the course. Commentary





Macbeth recognises he is doomed as his enemies hem himin. He depicts himself as a bear set upon by dogs: ‘They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, / But, bear-like, I must fight the course.’ Macbeth sees himself as strong (like a bear), but also trapped. Just as a baited bear is worn down and eventually killed by dogs,Macbeth understands that his own death is imminent. Despite this realisation and his mounting desperation, Macbeth is still determined to fight to the end.Macbeth’s helplessness in thismoment awakens the audience’s sympathy.We pity the strong bear set upon by lesser dogs.


10


foes/That strike beside us: enemies who fight with us (i.e. deserters from Macbeth’s army)


Let me find him, Fortune! [Alarums] There thou shouldst be; 7 3 Brandished: waved (a weapon)


Macbeth


If thou…of mine: If you have been killed, and not by my sword 5 kerns: hired Irish soldiers


4 6


Or else…undeeded: or else my undamaged sword will be replaced in its sheath unused


By this great…bruited: By all this noise it seems that someone of importance must be here.


8 rendered: surrendered 9


The day almost itself professes yours: You have very nearly won the day.


129


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