Macbeth Act V

Act V opens with Lady Macbeth’s most famous scene. In this it is clear her descent to madness has completed and her sense of guilt is now over powering. Wandering around listlessly saying “out damned spot” and speaking of deeds that have passed with guilt, “Who would have known the old man would have so much blood in him”. The irony of this scene is not missed as it was Lady Macbeth who proclaimed earlier “A little water will clean us of the deed” however her soul can never been cleaned no matter how much she washes her hands. This desolate mad woman is a far cry from the Lady who called “Unsex me here” to the dark spirits. There is a linguistic change that show the change in Lady Macbeth, previously speaking in verse, the character no longer speaks in iambic pentameter, perhaps showing her inability to put on the “False face” she told Macbeth of. Blood is used throughout the play in many forms as a victory, life and guilt. Here Lady Macbeth is unable to rid herself of the blood guilt she feels. The character states that “Hell is murky”, the Macbeths’ have created their own hell and this links back to the numerous references to hell throughout the play. From the porter, Ross and Macduff’s conversation and the turning of nature, Lady Macbeth already knows hell and is aware there is no escape for her or Macbeth.  In Scene II it is said “Some say he’s mad. Others, that lesser hate him” this description of Macbeth is a stark contrast from the glorifying of the brave valiant Macbeth at the beginning. The opening scenes show the Macbeths’ at complete contrast with who they were when we first met them.  Scene III there is an evident role reversal between the Macbeths. Lady Macbeth previously the strong driving force is replaced by Macbeth. The guilt does not seem to be getting to Macbeth as much, whereas Lady Macbeth who sparked the whole debacle is crippled by it.  Scene IV merely shows the hatred and determination the others have. The mad prophecies of the witches are beginning to fall completely into play as the Soldiers take branches from Birnam wood. Possibly showing that this was all part of a mad game of the witches, for their own twisted pleasure.  “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.” Is what Macbeth says in scene V when he hears of the death of Lady Macbeth.  Despite the intense love and dramatic nature of the relationship between the two, many people perceive this to be a very low level response and would argue that Macbeth no longer cares about anything. However I think this is one of the deepest expressions of grief in literature. With the death of his wife, in this beautiful speech, Macbeth demonstrates the true pain he is feeling. To him now, life no longer means a thing and when he has his armour put on, it is obvious Macbeth is marching to his death, but not without a fight.