He says, "They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, / But, bear-like, I must fight the course" (5.7.1-2). "They" refers to Malcolm's forces, and "bear-like" refers to an extremely cruel sport that was popular at the time. In the neighborhood of Shakespeare's Globe Theater was a similar building, called The Bear Garden.
Enter Macbeth. They have tied me to a stake. I cannot fly, But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What’s he That was not born of woman? Such a one
We have met with foes That strike beside us. Our enemies seem to be trying to miss when they strike at us. 35 Enter, sir, the castle. Sir, enter the castle.
The fight itself is preceded by a combat of words in which Siward appropriately taunts Macbeth with the words "devil" and "lie," words that have particular significance for his opponent. Macbeth's replies spur Siward into courageous but futile action.
The metaphor is taken from the popular Elizabethan pastime of bear-baiting. In this sport a bear was tied to a stake and worried by dogs. Macbeth, who finds it impossible to escape from the overwhelming force of his enemies, compares himself to such a baited bear.
What excuse does Macbeth give Macduff for not wanting to fight him? Macbeth didn't want to fight Macduff, because he didn't want to add any more bloodied casualties to the Fife Castle massacre body count.
What spurs Macbeth to continue fighting Macduff after he at first indicates he will not? Desperation, wanting to avoid shame for the rest of his life.
5 What is thy name? Thou lt be afraid to hear it. Than any is in hell. My names Macbeth.
' I will not yield, To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet, And to be baited with the rabble's curse.
How does Macbeth feel about fighting Macduff? What makes up his mind to do so? Macbeth tells Macduff that he has lived a very charmed life but swears that he will fight till the end.
Macbeth uses the metaphor of scorpions in his brain. Admitting to himself that he's going crazy. Macbeth is worried that Banquo and his son, Fleance, are going to murder him.
What is the meaning of Macbeth's opening speech in this scene? He mentions Duncan's death. The first part of the prophecy is complete, but worries if the second part will come true. In this scene, what is Macbeth's state of mind? He is worried and afraid that people will find out he murdered Duncan.
In his final speech, Malcolm also mentions that Lady Macbeth is said to have committed suicide. Thus, the play ends with very little ambiguity: the good side has won, and the evil side has been vanquished.
He says, "They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, / But, bear-like, I must fight the course" (5.7. 1-2). "They" refers to Malcolm's forces, and "bear-like" refers to an extremely cruel sport that was popular at the time.
Malcolm tells Macduff, “It is myself I mean, in whom I know all the particulars of vice so grafted that, when they shall be opened, black Macbeth will seem as pure as snow, and the poor state esteem him as a lamb, being compared with my confineless harms” (61-6).
Macduff defeats Macbeth Macbeth taunts Macduff but Macduff just wants to fight. Macbeth claims that he cannot be defeated because of the witches' prophecy but Macduff then reveals that he was born by Caesarean birth. Macbeth vows to fight on and the two men battle.
Macduff goes on to say that he has no wish to fight Macbeth's unwilling soldiers, then hears a noise which he thinks will lead him to Macbeth, and he rushes out again.
Now he is alone. He says, "They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, / But, bear-like, I must fight the course" (5.7.1-2). "They" refers to Malcolm's forces, and "bear-like" refers to an extremely cruel sport that was popular at the time. In the neighborhood of Shakespeare's Globe Theater was a similar building, called The Bear Garden. There a bear would be chained to a stake driven into the ground, and a pack of dogs would be let loose upon the bear for a fight to the death. The spectators made bets on such things as how many dogs the bear would kill before he died in this spectacle of blood and death. Macbeth compares himself to the bear, and he's right. Later in the scene we find that his soldiers have put up no resistance at all, so he is absolutely alone, surrounded by a force of more than ten thousand, all of whom want to kill him.
"Strike beside us" means either that Macbeth's soldiers deliberately missed when they swung their swords, or that they came over to Malcolm's side.
Macbeth's replies spur Siward into courageous but futile action. Before his exit, Macbeth gloats over the corpse of his assailant, with one final mockery: "Thou wast born of woman.". With ironic timing, the man who was not born of woman now takes Siward's place on the battlefield stage.
Perhaps the audience recalls the "gentle" King Duncan, who, on his fateful visit to Macbeth's castle at Inverness in Act I, Scene 6 , commented on the sweet air which surrounded it. Here, we feel that a weight has been lifted: the air will shortly "smell wooingly" once more. Glossary.
Describing the surrender of Macbeth's castle, Old Siward (who at this point is ignorant of the heroic self-sacrifice of his son) explains that Macbeth's troops surrendered the castle with little resistance — "gently." Perhaps the audience recalls the "gentle" King Duncan, who, on his fateful visit to Macbeth's castle at Inverness in Act I, Scene 6, commented on the sweet air which surrounded it. Here, we feel that a weight has been lifted: the air will shortly "smell wooingly" once more.
Macbeth fights Young Siward and kills him, gloating that he has nothing to fear from any man born of woman. He exits and is soon followed by a furious Macduff. Malcolm and Siward enter the castle.
Use Bold and Italics only to distinguish between different singers in the same verse.
Macbeth fights Young Siward and kills him, gloating that he has nothing to fear from any man born of woman. He exits and is soon followed by a furious Macduff. Malcolm and Siward enter the castle. Macbeth (1611) William Shakespeare. 1. Macbeth (Characters of the Play) 2. Macbeth Act 1 Scene 1.
Macbeth appears on stage and compares himself to a bear in a bear-baiting contest. Bear-baiting is a blood sport that involves chaining a bear to a stake and setting a pack of dogs on it. So Macbeth is feeling pretty trapped, but still—who could exist that wasn't "of woman born"?
Macduff is hot to kill Macbeth with his own sword because he'll likely be haunted by the ghosts of his wife and kids if he doesn't. He begs "fortune" to let him find Macbeth so he can stab him in the guts.
Young Siward enters, tells Macbeth he's worse than the devil, and...quickly dies.