Scene 1
1.) What do the nurse (gentlewoman) and the doctor see?
Lady Macbeth come into the room holding a candle, sleepwalking. After a while she begins to shout about the damned spot. (The blood/guilt on her hands.)
2.) What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, "Out, damned spot! Out I say!...will these hands never be clean?"?
It is a reference to the blood on her hands, and the guilt it all symbolizes. The washing of her hands can be done an infinite amount of times and the blood will never go away because her husband and her took the life of such a great king in their own house. (Multitudinous seas incarnadine)
3.) What is wrong with Lady Macbeth at this point of the play?
She's going down the same road her husband is, she may have been cursed too, but she is definitely going crazy. The doctor thinks this is just a strange supernatural occurance and feels that a priest is needed because her mind is infected and plagued and she is spewing forth vile rumors and horrible truths.
Scene 2
1.) What happens in this scene? What new characters are introduced? Why?
People in the army are meeting about the whereabouts of people and when they should all meet up with them. They all seem to meet at Birnam Wood.
New people = Menteith and Caithness
2.) What is significant of the scene?
It shows the people not putting up with Macbeth anymore. They've all had it and they know he is a tyrant and will not stand for him killing everybody all the time! They are all meeting and hoping to overthrow him. It also sets up the men hiding themselves as trees, causing Birnam Wood to rise to the fronts of Dunsinane hill where the witch prophecy will be fulfilled and Macbeth will be slain!!!
3.) What is meant when Caithness says, "Some say he'd mad; others that lesser hate him do call it valiant fury."?
Some say he's crazy, others who don't hate him as much as we do, say he's being bravely mad in fortifying his castle. Either way, he is bent out of control and has been having nonsensical fits of rage and must be stopped.
Scene 3
1.) How would you describe Macbeth's attitude and mood in this scene?
He is arrogant, pretty sure about what the witches said about Birnam Wood reaching Dunsinane. However his cockyness becomes his downfall and did not realize the witches equivocative speakings. He feels invincible, but when news comes about the English forces near his castle, he appears a little confused or dismayed. Nevertheless, he seeks comfort from Seyton whom he wishes to get his armor and weapons for him. He feels he must be prepared to take this battle but will slowly lose hope...
2.) Why isn't Macbeth afraid? Do his soldier's seem afraid? Why or why not?
He feels that he isn't going to lose because of the witches' prophecy, but his soldiers are to be hanged if they should fear battle, so they are probably afraid for their lives due to his cruel ways of treating them.
Scene 4
1.) What does Malcolm order the soldiers to do?
Each soldier should take a branch from Birnam Wood and hold it over their heads as they make their way to approach Dunsinane. This way, when the scouts of Macbeth look, they will not be able to tell how many men are advancing on the castle.
Scene 5
1.) What is meant when Macbeth says, "She should have died here-after"?
She should've died after the war so that there would be more time for him to think about her death and mourn.
2.) What is significant of the following quote, "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."?
Life is meaningless. Macbeth has given up hope. Human existence really means nothing and his passing is no more/no less significant than any other human beings in all of history. It's just a game to be played where no one wins or loses. Just nothing.
Scene 6
1.) What is important about this scene?
The scene shows that Malcolm's army had reached the front of the castle. It is also fulfills the prophecy that Macbeth would not be defeated until Birnam Wood had reached Dunsinane.
Scene 7
1.) Who does Macbeth kill in this scene? What is significant about this death?
Siward's son. Siward is English and it signifies that there must be English sacrifice to vanquish the tyrannical Macbeth. Young Siward is also born of a woman.
Scene 8
1.) What happens in this scene?
Macbeth is encountered by Macduff.
2.) Why does Macbeth lose heart in the fight against Macduff?
Because he has lost everything and doesn't have much else to gain after murdering everyone and losing his wife, losing all respect from everyone else that's alive and important, as well as having no chance to becoming a brave, respectable warrior again after his tyrannical reign as king.
3.) Who is named king at the end of the play?
Malcolm.
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