Question
7. How does Macbeth respond when he knows all hope is gone?(V.viii) 8. How has Macbeth's attitude changed over the course of the play? (LV) English 10 9. How does the last seene of the play show order, hope and the positive potential of the human spirit?
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Luella
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Answer
7. When Macbeth learns that Birnam Wood seems to be moving toward Dunsinane, fulfilling part of the witches' prophecy, he begins to doubt the equivocal nature of their pronouncements. However, he initially resolves to fight on, showing a kind of desperate courage. Even when Macduff reveals that he was not "of woman born" in the conventional sense, Macbeth still refuses to yield, declaring he will not be taken alive. He fights Macduff to the death, demonstrating a final, defiant resistance even though he knows his cause is lost and all hope is gone. He chooses to die fighting rather than surrender.8. Macbeth's attitude undergoes a dramatic transformation throughout the play. He begins as a brave and loyal soldier, lauded for his valor. The witches' prophecies and Lady Macbeth's ambition ignite a lust for power within him, leading him down a path of murder and tyranny. As he commits more atrocities, his guilt and paranoia grow, replacing his initial confidence with increasing anxiety and fear. He becomes isolated, suspicious, and tyrannical. By the end of the play, he is a despairing figure, recognizing the futility of his actions and facing his demise with a bleak acceptance, though still clinging to a desperate, defiant pride. He has gone from a respected hero to a reviled tyrant.9. The last scene of *Macbeth* emphasizes the restoration of order and the return of hope after a period of chaos and tyranny. Malcolm's declaration that he will become a just and righteous king signals a return to legitimate rule and the promise of a more stable future for Scotland. He speaks of rewarding those who have been loyal and pardoning those who were misled by Macbeth, suggesting a spirit of reconciliation and healing. The image of Macbeth's head being brought on stage, while gruesome, symbolizes the definitive end of his tyrannical reign and the triumph of good over evil. This act reinforces the idea that justice will prevail and that the natural order will be restored. Malcolm's closing lines, looking forward to his coronation, emphasize the positive potential of the human spirit to overcome adversity and build a better future.