Act 5
1 Possible answer: In earlier scenes, Lady Macbeth’s powerful and cruel feelings had been revealed by
her powerful and frightening words. The verse showed us how strongly she felt. In this scene, Lady
Macbeth’s guilt has driven her mad. She cannot speak clearly or reasonably any more. The use of prose
helps to show this.
2 He still had hope because he still trusted the witches’ words. He would not fear defeat until Birnam
Wood moved towards his castle at Dunsinane. Of course, Macbeth thought that this could never
happen.
3 Lady Macbeth killed herself because the guilt she felt had driven her mad.
4 At first, he did not believe the news and was angry. Then he realized that the witches had not told the
truth. But, in spite of the fact that there was no hope left, he decided to die fighting.
5 When Macduff told Macbeth about his unusual birth (in which he was cut early from his mother’s side),
Macbeth finally realized that the witches were lying and that he could still be killed.
6 Possible answer: Macbeth’s ambition, his active imagination, his wife’s encouragement and his
murderous actions had led him to become an evil tyrant. He had to die. But he died bravely and
perhaps we can admire him for that.