Act 5 Scene 5
This scene continues to show the downfall of Macbeth’s mental state, as he orders that banners be hung and claims the castle will repel the enemy. A woman’s cry is heard, and Seyton appears to tell Macbeth that Lady Macbeth is dead. A messenger enters to say the trees of Birnam Wood are advancing toward Dunsinane. Macbeth panics and begins to recall the prophecy that said he could not die till Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane. Resignedly, he declares that he is tired of the sun and that at least he will die fighting.
Plot Summary
After a battle in Scotland, Macbeth and his friend Banquo meet three witches, who make three prophecies? Macbeth will be a Thane?, Macbeth will be king and Banquo’s sons will be kings. The witches’ first prophecy comes true, and King Duncan makes Macbeth Thane of Cawdor? When King Duncan visits Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to murder King Duncan in his sleep to make the second prophecy come true.
With Lady Macbeth’s help, Macbeth frames King Duncan’s dead servants as the murderers. Duncan’s children, Malcolm and Donalbain, leave Scotland for their own safety. Now king, Macbeth worries about the witches’ third prophecy and sends murderers to kill Banquo and his son.
At a banquet, Macbeth is haunted by visions of Banquo’s ghost in front of all his guests. Macbeth visits the witches, and they tell him – the only person he needs to beware of is Macduff, no one a woman has given birth to can harm him and he won’t be defeated until Birnam Wood moves. He thinks he’s unbeatable.
While Macduff is in England convincing Duncan’s son Malcolm to fight against Macbeth, Macbeth has Macduff’s family murdered. Macduff and Malcolm arrive in Scotland with an army. On their way to attack Macbeth’s castle they cut down branches from the trees in Birnam Wood to use as camouflage. When the wood moves, one of the witches’ prophecies come true. Macduff later reveals that he was born by a caesarean birth? and kills Macbeth, fulfilling the final prophecy.