Hello and welcome to "Read it and (Don't) Weep," the podcast that will help you breeze through your high school literature classes. Are you tired of struggling to understand the themes and characters in classic works of literature? Well, I’ve got you covered! I am your host, Jackey Taggart, and I taught high school English for almost 20 years. Join me each episode as I dive into the world of high school literature and break down the essential elements of each work. From Shakespeare to Steinbeck, I'll cover it all. My goal is to give you valuable insights and analysis on some of the most popular high school literary texts, as well as tips and tricks for acing your tests and essays. Let’s start reading!
Act 5, Scene 1
Hello and welcome back to "Read it and (Don't) Weep." I’m Jackey Taggart, and we have reached the final act of this tragedy. In Act 4, we saw Macbeth fully commit to a path of violence, ordering the murder of Macduff’s family and pushing Scotland into open tyranny. Now, in Act 5, those consequences start coming back to haunt the very person who helped set everything in motion, Lady Macbeth. If you have not yet read up to this point, it would be a good idea to get caught up with your reading and listen to my other episodes before continuing.
Act 5 opens at Macbeth’s castle on Dunsinane Hill, and instead of focusing on our major characters, we see the doctor and Lady Macbeth’s lady-in-waiting. They’ve been watching her because something is clearly wrong with her. Her lady-in-waiting explains that the queen has been getting out of bed in the middle of the night, walking through the castle, writing, and even sealing letters, all while still asleep.
The doctor is concerned. He calls it a serious disturbance of nature, the body asleep while the mind is still working. Sleepwalking is a real condition where the body moves while the brain is still asleep, and it can be triggered by stress or emotional turmoil, which makes it a perfect way for Shakespeare to show Lady Macbeth’s guilt.
As the doctor and lady-in-waiting continue to talk, Lady Macbeth enters. The first thing we notice is that she is carrying a candle. This is a huge change from earlier in the play. Back then, she called on darkness to hide their crimes. Now she refuses to be without light.
As she moves across the room, she begins rubbing her hands together, as if she is trying to wash them. Her lady-in-waiting says this is something she does constantly now.
Then Lady Macbeth starts speaking in her sleep, and what comes out is a series of broken confessions. She relives the night of Duncan’s murder, crying, “Out, damned spot, out, I say.” She talks as if she can still see the blood on her hands and she cannot wash off the blood no matter how hard she tries.
Her mind jumps from memory to memory. She mentions Macduff’s wife, (“The Thane of Fife had a wife”.) showing that these murders haunt her, too. She also tries to reassure Macbeth that Banquo is buried and cannot come back, as if she is still stuck in the moment of the banquet.
Her most famous line sums up everything she is feeling. She says, “All the / perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little /hand.” In other words, nothing can erase what they have done.
Eventually she drifts back toward her chamber, still asleep, still trapped inside her own guilt.
The doctor is shaken. He admits that this is beyond his ability to treat and says what she really needs is spiritual help, not medical care. He also tells the lady-in-waiting to watch her closely, suggesting she may harm herself.
This scene shows how far Lady Macbeth has fallen. Earlier in the play, she insisted a little water would wash away their crime. Now, she is haunted by blood that only she can see.
That is the end of Act 5, scene 1. Before going on to the scene 2, record your thoughts in your reading journal, What does Lady Macbeth’s behavior show about how guilt affects the mind?
Hey teachers! Are you looking for some top-notch resources to go along with this podcast episode? You'll find them right in my store. A quick click on the link in the show notes gets you right there. What awaits? A stash of guided questions, note-taking aids, and assessments to use with your students. Go ahead, make the most of these resources today!
Act 5, Scene 2
Scene 2 takes us out into the countryside near Dunsinane Hill, where we see several Scottish lords gathering troops and preparing to join Malcolm’s forces. This scene is short, but it shows clearly that support for Macbeth is falling apart.
Menteith opens by confirming that the English army is close, led by Malcolm, Siward (leader of the English troops), and Macduff. He points out that their desire for revenge and justice is strong enough to motivate even the most reluctant soldiers.
Angus then notes that the armies will meet near Birnam Wood, while Lennox adds that Malcolm is bringing plenty of young nobles eager to prove themselves in battle.
When they turn their attention to Macbeth, the tone shifts. Caithness explains that Macbeth is holed up in Dunsinane castle, desperately trying to fortify his position. Some people say he’s mad, while others say he’s acting out of reckless fury, but either way, he can’t hold his power together anymore.
Angus adds that Macbeth’s crimes are starting to catch up with him and that the men fighting for him obey only out of duty, not loyalty. Then he delivers one of the most powerful images in the play, saying Macbeth’s title hangs on him like “a giant’s robe upon a dwarfish thief.” In other words, the crown doesn’t fit him. He may wear it, but he really doesn’t deserve it.
The lords agree that Malcolm is the true remedy for Scotland’s suffering and decide to march toward Birnam to join him. The scene ends with them moving forward together, ready to fight to restore their country.
Before moving on to the next episode, take a few minutes to record your thoughts in your reading journal. What does the image of the “giant’s robe” reveal about how the nobles now see Macbeth, and why is that image important for understanding his downfall?
Closing
Thanks for listening to this episode of Read it and (Don’t) Weep. Be sure to subscribe to the show so you will be notified when new episodes are released. If you liked today’s show, please leave a review so others can discover my show. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, drop me an email at readitanddontweep@gmail.com, or reach out to me on social media. I would love to hear from you. The links are in the show notes.
Thank you for listening. I am Jackey Taggart and remember to Read It and Don’t Weep.
