Macbeth: Act 5, scene 11

The color-coded bars in this section make it easy to track the themes throughout the work. Each color corresponds to one of the themes explained in the Themes section of this LitChart. For instance, indicates that all five themes apply to that part of the summary.

Summary Analysis Themes

Malcolm, Siward, Ross, and others enter. Ross tells Siward of Young Siward’s death. Siward asks if his son died from wounds on the front or back. Ross replies the front. Siward is content, denying Malcolm’s comment that his son is worth more mourning than that.

Siward is an ambiguous part of an otherwise happy ending. Siward prizes strength and courage above all things, even love for his family. Might he one day become another Macbeth?

Macduff enters, carrying Macbeth’s severed head. He proclaims Malcolm to be King of Scotland and swears his loyalty.

Macduff shows his loyalty to King and country.

Malcolm accepts the thanes’ loyalty and makes them all earls (a higher rank). He pledges to “plant” a new peace, and to heal the wounds Macbeth and his “fiend-like queen” (5.11.35) inflicted on Scotland.

Malcolm returns Scotland to political order, as his use of nature metaphors shows. Malcolm wants to make his country great, not himself.