Act 5, Scene 5

As the enemy forces close in on Dunsinane, Macbeth exudes confidence in the strength of his castle, believing himself secure behind its walls. He reflects on his desensitization to fear, noting that he has “supp’d full with horrors” and can “almost forget the taste of fears.” Macbeth recalls a time when he would have been easily frightened but admits that his violent actions have numbed him. His grim reflections are interrupted when his steward brings news of Lady Macbeth’s death. Stunned, Macbeth contemplates the meaningless nature of life, famously describing it as “a tale told by an idiot.”

Shortly after, a messenger arrives with unexpected news: Birnam Wood appears to be moving toward the castle. Macbeth, initially dismissive, is soon forced to confront the impossible reality of the prophecy coming true. Though this revelation rattles his confidence, he steels himself and prepares for the battle, determined to face his fate head-on.

Analysis

Lady Macbeth’s death, later implied to have been a suicide, prompts one of Shakespeare’s most famous soliloquies, in which Macbeth ruminates on the futility and fleeting nature of life:

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
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.

In this soliloquy, Macbeth’s thoughts oscillate between despair and defiance. He reflects on the insignificance of life, viewing it as a series of meaningless events that lead inevitably to death. Life, to Macbeth, is a “walking shadow” and a “poor player” on the stage, who plays a part only to vanish without consequence. This bleak outlook underscores the emptiness Macbeth feels, having achieved power through ruthless ambition but finding himself left with only enemies and regrets. He views existence as “full of sound and fury,” conveying both his anger and his recognition of life’s inherent futility.

The realization that the prophecy about Birnam Wood is coming true strikes Macbeth with dread, disrupting his earlier bravado. The moving forest symbolizes the collapse of his illusions and his impending doom, as the supernatural assurances he once relied on unravel before him. Macbeth’s reaction to the prophecy’s fulfillment demonstrates his vulnerability, as he shifts from nihilism back to defiance, prepared to meet his fate in battle.

Despite their moral decay, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth remain one of literature’s most memorable tragic couples, embodying the destructive power of unchecked ambition. The news of Birnam Wood’s advance spurs Macbeth to action, momentarily reinvigorating him. Later, in his confrontation with Macduff, Macbeth clings to life, even after losing everything, valuing his existence enough to resist capture. When he realizes that the witches’ prophecy regarding “no man of woman born” was a trick, he loses all hope, recognizing the depth of his own self-deception.

Macbeth’s death offstage restores peace, as Malcolm steps forward to reestablish order in Scotland. In his closing speech, Malcolm announces that the thanes will become earls—a symbolic gesture reflecting the strengthening bond between Scotland and England under shared rule. For Shakespeare’s audience, this union would signify the restoration of justice and stability after the terror and bloodshed that marked Macbeth’s reign. Malcolm’s crowning moment serves as a hopeful end, marking the return of lawful leadership and the purging of corruption from Scotland.