Act 5 Scene 2

Act 5 Scene 2

1. Malcom, Macduff, Siward and the English army approach

   • Macbeth is troubled by internal revolt- his soldiers only obey him out of fear
     • His conscience oppresses him

2. Repeated references to Birnam Wood

   • 'Near Birnam Wood'
     • Link back to the prophecies of the witches
       • Reintroduces the theme of trickery and deceit
   • At the end 'towards Birman'
   • STRUCTURE- repeated at both the beginning and the end of the scene- constant reminder- inevitability of what is going to happen

3. Portrayal of Macbeth

   • 'tyrant'
     • oppressive, destructive kingship
       • repeated throughout the play
       • extreme evil
   • 'Some say he's mad'
     • 'Others that lesser hate him do call it valiant fury'
       • Universal hate by all- lack of supporters
       • 'valiant fury'
         • unpredictable/ violent nature - dangerous
   • 'Nothing in love'
   • 'Now he does feel his secret murders sticking on his hands'
     • sibilance
       • conscience and deceitful nature

4. Clothing imagery

   • First referenced when Macbeth was given his new titles
   • 'He cannot buckle his distempered cause within the belt of rule'
     • 'cannot buckle'
       • 'buckle'
         • forceful- trying to secure something in place
           • Reflects Macbeth's lack of control and leadership
             • Links with the chaos in Scotland
           • May also represent how he tries to keep the government by force- oppression out of fear
             • 'Those he commands, move only in command'
               • Obey him out of fear not revere/respect
   • 'His title hang loose about him, like a giant's robe upon a dwarfish thief'
     • simile
       • 'hang loose'
         • Not quite fitting his role
       • physical image
         • As though he has shrunk
           • 'dwarfish thief'
             • Small, diminutive immoral character
               • Cannot fit the huge role of being king
         • 'giant'
           • Large powerful- qualities needed for a king- contrast with dwarf
             • His transformation - He has become overpowered and overcome with evil

5. References to medicine

   • 'Meet we the medicine of the sickly weal'
     • And with him pour we in our country's purge, each drop of us'
       • 'purge'
         • Trying to cure Scotland by cleansing it- free from Macbeth's tyranny
           • reflects the diseased state of Scotland at the moment
           • corruption of Macbeth
     • Malcom is the cure of the diseased Kingdom
       • Reflects the Great Chain of Being- had been disrupted
     • cleansing/healing/restoring
       • Similar to the English King

6. Rebellion

   • 'Now minutely revolts unbraid his faith-breach'
     • 'minutely' - introduction of time- imminent attack
       • Unrelenting, persistent nature of the opposition