Act five, Macbeth

Act 5 brings a sense of justice to the play, as well as the triumph of good over evil. In scene 1 Lady Macbeth's madness is revealed to the reader, displaying how her steely, strong character has descended into utter insanity due to her participation in the murder of the King of Scotland, as well as constantly assuring Macbeth in the earlier scenes in the play. *Strange how we don't question whether LM is truly unaffected by the murder earlier in the play, assume she is the stronger one, someone has to be?* The presence of the doctor and gentlewoman are extremely important as they both act as witnesses in a sense, and emphasise the depths of madness to which LM has sunk. Moreover the doctor emphasises the disturbance in nature which rings true throughout the play, 'perturbation in nature', 'unnatural deeds', and is also relevant in the 'unnatural troubles' of LM. The doctor's last speech is rich in natural imagery, 'breed', 'mated', 'eyes', 'speak', 'sight'. The language used once again emphasies the unnatural occurence witnessed by the doctor but also possibly the things LM is no longer in control of, or never has been. For example, the true nature of her feelings of guilt concerning the murder of Duncan she is no longer in control of, and her senses 'sight' and speech she is also no longer in control over, as she confesses unknowingly in her insanity and regarding her eyesight her 'sense are shut'.
LM's inability to sleep is foreshadowed in the second act, where one of the King's attendants cries 'Macbeth does murder sleep', the 'benefit of sleep', has no effect on LM as it has been 'murdered' by Macbeth, thus she cannot resolve her guilt in her mind, as she does not receive the mental healing rewarded by sleep.
* blood once again used as a symbol of guilt - similar to Macbeth 'will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood from my hand?'
*'hell is murky' - not real hell, as she is not dead or has not been convicted or found out, self inflicted darkness - personal hell?
Scene 2 fundamentally shows the extent Macbeth has gone to- as he has lost all loyalty and respect, previously bestowed upon him by the various lords etc. in court. - they belittle him calling him a 'dwarfish thief'
*imagery once again of blood 'sticking' (not being able to wash it clean)
Macbeth's guilt is also evident in act 5 (Scene 3), when he enquires after the doctor after his 'patient' (aka LM), this is such a cold way to address his wife, indicating Macbeth's desire to distance himself from her 'illness', possible as he is to blame? to ease his own guilt? Macbeth asks generally of the doctor 'canst thou not minister to a mind diseased,pluck from the memory the rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain'. His casual use of the word 'the' lacks specification LM who is the one seriously ill because of 'written troubles of the brain' yet Macbeth speaks so generally - leaving it open, to whether he can be cured of his own 'diseased' mind.
Macbeth's soliloquy in reaction to LM's death (scene 5) is key at this point in the play, nearing the end of the play, there is already a hint of desperation and despair, Macbeth's speech echoes a typical nihilistic view on life, that it has no meaning or purpose and is essentially pointless. does his nihilistic view on life act as self justification for his own crimes, if they signify nothing then he has done no wrong?
*'life's but a poor player...' - Macbeth directed by witches (he is the player on stage) or could be interpreted as a dramatic way of Shakespeare forcing the audience to recognise the theatrical illusion of the play?
Scene 6: murder of Macbeth
Act 5 is much more fast paced than the others, representing the culmination to the climax of the play, and also the action within this scene. Macbeth's soliloquy is key not only in this act but of the whole play, as it demonstrates a rare genuine view of Macbeth's, with no influence from LM, the witches or his power hungry mind, it is Macbeth in despair, at a loss, vulnerable and acknowledging that his end is near also.