Macbeth and Macduff meet. Macbeth says he has avoided fighting Macduff because he has too much blood on his hands already. They fight. Macbeth mocks Macduff, saying his effort is wasted: no one of woman born can beat Macbeth. But Macduff replies that he was “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb”. Macbeth, suddenly fearful now that the prophecy has turned against him, refuses to fight him. But Macduff calls Macbeth a coward and says that Macbeth will be mocked across Scotland if he surrenders. Despite certain death, Macbeth attacks. Macduff kills him.
Malcolm, Siward, Ross, and others enter. Ross tells Siward of Young Siward’s death. Siward asks if his son died from wounds on the front or back. Ross replies the front. Siward is content, denying Malcolm’s comment that his son is worth more mourning than that.
Macduff enters, carrying Macbeth’s severed head. He proclaims Malcolm to be King of Scotland and swears his loyalty. Malcolm accepts the thanes’ loyalty and makes them all earls . He pledges to “plant” a new peace, and to heal the wounds Macbeth and his “fiend-like queen” inflicted on Scotland.
Analysis :
It’s unclear if Macbeth is being honest or if he’s baiting Macduff, although by saying this it could be interpreted as a sense of remorse. The second block of Macbeth’s fate slides into place, inforcing the rule , fate is in no human being’s hands. Macbeth dies as he lived—a slave to ambition. Lady Macbeth convinced him to sacrifice his honor by questioning his courage, now Macduff gets Macbeth to fight for a lost cause to prove his courage.
Siward is an ambiguous part of an otherwise happy ending. Siward prizes strength and courage above all things, even love for his family, his ambiguity cause the audience to question whether or not he has the potential to become as corrupt as Macbeth.
Macduff shows his loyalty to King and country. Malcolm returns Scotland to political order, as his use of nature metaphors shows. Malcolm wants to make his country great, not himself.
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