Macbeth

by William Shakespeare

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Act V, Scene viii

Act V, Scene vi Summary

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Macbeth Act V, Scene vii Summary

Macbeth appears on stage and compares himself to a bear in a bear-baiting contest (i.e. he's in a serious jam).
History Snack: Bear-baiting is a blood sport that involves chaining a bear to a stake and setting a pack of dogs on it. Elizabethans thought this was great fun – bear-baiting arenas were located in the same neighborhoods as the theaters (just in case anyone wanted to take in a play and then top off their day of fun with a little animal cruelty).
Then Young Siward enters – when he sees Macbeth, he demands to know his name.
They fight and Young Siward is slain.Macbeth talks some evil smack over the dead body, which goes something like this: Your swords and weapons can't touch me because you're "of woman born."

Act V, Scene viii

Act V, Scene vi