Macbeth Prepares for Battle (Act 5, Scene 5)

Macbeth has banners hung out on Dunsinane Castle to show they are staying put and would last through a siege.  He could have forced the English back if all the Thanes (‘those that should be ours’) had not gone to the other side.

There is a cry out. There were times when that would have given Macbeth the chills. Seyton finds out that the Queen is dead. Macbeth goes into despair. He reflects on the futility of life, famously declaring it a ‘Tale told by an idiot’.

Macbeth is told that Birnam wood is moving.  He threatens to hang the messenger if this is not true. If it is true then he is weary of this world. His only consolation is to die fighting in his armour.