Discussion Topic

Macbeth's Motivation and Purpose of Young Siward's Death

Summary:

In Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 7, Macbeth's motivation to kill Young Siward is driven by his belief in his own invincibility, as foretold by the Second Apparition's prophecy that "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth." Macbeth's hubris blinds him to his vulnerability, making him overconfident in battle, even against overwhelming odds. Young Siward's death underscores Macbeth's descent into madness and arrogance, reinforcing his misguided sense of invulnerability, which ultimately leads to his downfall when confronted by Macduff, who was not "of woman born."

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In Act 5, Scene 7 of Macbeth, what motivates Macbeth to kill Young Siward?

Macbeth was in a desperate battle fighting for his life. He would have killed any soldier who confronted him. So, the answer to your question is simple: Young Siward challenged him and was killed.  The question should be: Why does Shakespeare show Macbeth fighting and killing Young Siward?" No doubt Shakespeare had several reasons for including this episode in Act 5, Scene 7.

For one thing, Shakespeare intended to have Macduff find Macbeth on the battlefield and kill the tyrant after an exchange of words. Shakespeare apparently wanted to show that Macbeth was valiantly engaged in fighting the enemy despite their overwhelming odds. Also, Shakespeare wanted to show that Macbeth still considered himself invulnerable because he was relying on the promise of the Second Apparition evoked by the witches in Act 4, Scene 1:

Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn
The power of man, for none of woman born
Shall harm Macbeth.

It seems that Macbeth is invulnerable as long as he believes himself to be invulnerable. When he is confronted by Young Siward, he dispatches him quickly and says:

Thou wast born of woman
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born.

Among other things, Shakespeare wanted to show that Macbeth was valiant and that he was almost impossible to beat in a sword fight until he learned that Macduff was not exactly born of woman because was delivered as an infant by a primitive caesarean operation. He was "from his mother's womb untimely ripped." At this point, Macbeth sees he is doomed to defeat.

Accursed be that tongue that tells me so,
For it hath cow'd my better part of man!
And be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That palter with us in a double sense;
That keep the word of promise to our ear,
And break it to our hope. I'll not fight with thee.

It is possible that Macbeth could have defeated Macduff in a duel if he had not lost his nerve when he realized that he was confronted by the man who had the strongest motivation to kill him and, furthermore, that that man was not "of woman born." The assurance Macbeth had received from the Second Apparition became turned against him. If he could not be harmed by any man of woman born, then he could be harmed by a man who was not of woman born.

Macduff forces Macbeth to fight and kills him in their death duel.

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What purpose does Young Siward's death serve in act 5, scene 7 of Macbeth?

Young Siward is able to express the attitude toward Macbeth by those who would have formerly been his allies and supporters. Macbeth has gone from being

Brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name!

to

 abhorred tyrant.

Young Siward is driven to execute Macbeth, who has so divided the nation that even his own troops fight among themselves and join Macduff's crusade.

The most notable function of young Siward, however, is to further convince Macbeth that he is invincible. Macbeth perceives no threat from young Siward, and rapidly dispatches him in combat. He is energized by his defeat of the brave young man-

Thou wast born of woman.
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born.

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