ACT V - Scene VI Macbeth

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Dunsinane. Before the castle.

Enter Malcolm, old Siward, Macduff, and their Army, with boughs.
Drum and colors.

MALCOLM

Now near enough; your leavy screens throw down,
And show like those you are. You, worthy uncle,
Shall with my cousin, your right noble son,
Lead our first battle. Worthy Macduff and we
Shall take upon 's what else remains to do,
According to our order.

SIWARD

Fare you well.
Do we but find the tyrant's power tonight,
Let us be beaten if we cannot fight.

MACDUFF

Make all our trumpets speak, give them all breath,
Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.

Exeunt.

Frequently Asked Questions about ACT V - Scene VI from Macbeth

What happens in Act 5, Scene 6 of Macbeth?

In Act 5, Scene 6, Malcolm and his allied forces arrive before Dunsinane Castle after marching through Birnam Wood. Malcolm orders his soldiers to throw down the branches they have been carrying as camouflage and reveal themselves as an army. He organizes the battle, assigning old Siward and his son to lead the first attack while he and Macduff handle the remaining forces. Macduff calls for the trumpets to sound, and the assault on Macbeth's castle begins.

How does Act 5, Scene 6 fulfill the witches' prophecy about Birnam Wood?

The witches' apparition told Macbeth he would not be defeated until Birnam Wood moved to Dunsinane Hill. In Act 5, Scene 6, this prophecy is literally fulfilled when Malcolm's soldiers, who cut branches from Birnam Wood to use as camouflage in Scene 4, now arrive at Dunsinane carrying those branches. When Malcolm orders them to "throw down" the "leavy screens," the army has effectively brought Birnam Wood to Dunsinane, turning what Macbeth believed was an impossible condition into reality through simple military strategy.

Who leads the battle against Macbeth in Act 5, Scene 6?

Malcolm organizes a two-pronged attack on Dunsinane Castle. The first wave is led by old Siward, a veteran English lord, alongside his son, young Siward. The second wave is led by Malcolm himself and Macduff, who will handle whatever remains after the initial assault. This orderly division of command showcases Malcolm's qualities as a legitimate leader, contrasting sharply with Macbeth's isolated tyranny inside the castle.

Why is Act 5, Scene 6 of Macbeth so short?

At just ten lines, Act 5, Scene 6 is one of the shortest scenes in all of Shakespeare. Its brevity serves a dramatic purpose: it mirrors the swift, decisive action of an army transitioning from strategy to combat. Shakespeare uses the scene as a brief bridge between the planning stages (the march through Birnam Wood) and the actual fighting (which begins in Scene 7). The rapid pace also builds theatrical momentum, propelling the audience toward the climactic confrontation between Macbeth and Macduff.

What is the significance of Macduff's final line in Act 5, Scene 6?

Macduff's closing words—"Make all our trumpets speak, give them all breath, / Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death"—serve as a powerful battle cry that signals the start of the assault. The word "harbingers" means forerunners or heralds, and by calling the trumpets "harbingers of blood and death," Macduff acknowledges the violence to come while embracing it as necessary to end Macbeth's tyranny. The line also gives Macduff the dramatic final word, foreshadowing his central role in Macbeth's ultimate defeat.