Macbeth, Act 5 Scene 7 runs 35 lines of dialogue, spoken by 5 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 85 lines. This scene is part of Act 5 of Macbeth.
Full Dialogue
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
Am I to fear, or none.
But, bear-like, I must fight the course. What's he
That was not born of woman? Such a one
Am I to fear, or none.
Young Siward ♂
What is thy name?
Macbeth ♂
Thou'lt be afraid to hear it.
Young Siward ♂
No; though thou call'st thyself a hotter name
Than any is in hell.
Than any is in hell.
Macbeth ♂
My name's Macbeth.
Young Siward ♂
The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.
More hateful to mine ear.
Macbeth ♂
No, nor more fearful.
Young Siward ♂
Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword
I'll prove the lie thou speak'st.
I'll prove the lie thou speak'st.
Macbeth ♂
Thou wast born of woman
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born.
But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn,
Brandish'd by man that's of a woman born.
Macduff ♂
That way the noise is. Tyrant, show thy face!
If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine,
My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be;
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited. Let me find him, fortune!
And more I beg not.
If thou be'st slain and with no stroke of mine,
My wife and children's ghosts will haunt me still.
I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms
Are hired to bear their staves: either thou, Macbeth,
Or else my sword with an unbatter'd edge
I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be;
By this great clatter, one of greatest note
Seems bruited. Let me find him, fortune!
And more I beg not.
Siward ♂
This way, my lord; the castle's gently render'd:
The tyrant's people on both sides do fight;
The noble thanes do bravely in the war;
The day almost itself professes yours,
And little is to do.
The tyrant's people on both sides do fight;
The noble thanes do bravely in the war;
The day almost itself professes yours,
And little is to do.
Malcolm ♂
We have met with foes
That strike beside us.
That strike beside us.
Siward ♂
Enter, sir, the castle.
35 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Macduff | 10 | 28.6% |
| Macbeth | 10 | 28.6% |
| Young Siward | 7 | 20.0% |
| Siward | 6 | 17.1% |
| Malcolm | 2 | 5.7% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 10 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 7 lines.
Total speakers on stage
5 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 5
This is Scene 7 of 8 in Act 5 of Macbeth.
Scene length vs. play average
At 35 lines, this scene is shorter than the Macbeth average scene in Macbeth (~85 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 5 Scene 6 · Next: Act 5 Scene 8