Macbeth LRJ #5

1. The most manifested theme in Act 5 of Macbeth has to be that of revenge. It seems that most of the cast pursues some sort of vendetta against the ill-fitting ruler. The audience finds this most profusely through Macduff, If thou be'st slain, and with no stroke of mine,/ My wife and children's ghost will haunt me still," (5.7.16-17). The crowd then conceives Macduff's revenge not simply for his own pleasure, but as something he must do in order for his family to be at peace. It must be carried out at least partly by him in order to exalt the proper vengeance.

2. The image pattern of blood plays a particularly strong usage in this Act. One prime example is seen with Lady Macbeth, " Out, damned spot[of blood]!"(5.1.34) Lady Macbeth's true feelings of regret are finally revealed, with the use of blood. Her frantic sleepwalking provides a keyhole into her true character, along with proof of the Macbeth's crime. Another instance is when blood is used to foreshadows the battle and fighting that is to come, " [trumpets] clamorous harbingers of blood!"(5.7.10) This is what sets the stage for bloodshed between Macbeth and his friends-turned-archenemies, along with the saturated thirst for revenge.