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In Act 5 Scene 6, a Messenger arrived at Dunsinane, the royal castle of Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057]. He brought the news that Birnam Wood appeared to be moving towards Dunsinane. He said that the forest appeared already to have moved within three miles of the royal castle.

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Q: What did the messenger tell Macbeth he saw coming toward Dunsinane?
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What is Macbeth referring to when she says to doubt the equivocation of the fiend?

I see that in your production you have cast Macbeth with a woman. That's interesting. (otherwise you must say "he says" not "she says") The quotation you are referring to is: If thou speak'st false, Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth, I care not if thou dost for me as much. I pull in resolution, and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood Do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood Comes toward Dunsinane. He's speaking to a messenger who has just told him that Birnam wood is coming to Dunsinane, an event about which he said, earlier in the play, "That can never be!" As the passage clearly shows, he says that if the messenger is telling the truth, he cannot rely on the prophecy "fear not, till Birnam wood do come to Dunsinane", because it is "equivocation"--it seems to say one thing and means another. And who is the "fiend that lies like truth"? You'll need three guesses because there were three of them around that cauldron.


What did Macduff discover in Macbeth?

In Act 4 Scene 1, the three witches warned Macbeth to beware of Macduff. They also assured him that he was undefeatable except under two circumstances. One was the movement of Birnam Wood to Dunsinane Castle. The other was the power of a man not born of woman. In Act 5 Scene 6, Macbeth was told by a Messenger of the movement of Birnam Wood toward Dunsinane Castle. But Macbeth wasn't worried. His biggest fear was of the man not born of woman. In Act 5 Scene 9, Macbeth and Macduff found themselves on the same part of the battlefield outside of Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth still wasn't worried. But his worries began with a surprise piece of news from Macduff. Macduff explained that he had been delivered by Caesarian section from a dead mother. Therefore, he was delivered, not born. Neither was he born of woman. Instead, he was born of a corpse.


When does Macbeth know he is in trouble?

A servant tells him that Birnam Forest is moving toward Dunsinane. Macbeth says, "I pull in resolution and begin to doubt the equivocation of the fiend that lies like truth. 'Fear not till Birnam Wood do come to Dunsinane', and now a wood do come to Dunsinane." One of the things that he thought never could happen has happened, because the prophecies are equivocal.


Do lady Macbeth's and Macbeth's soliloquies add to the sense that the characters are moving toward disaster?

Probably


Lady Macbeth's attitude toward Duncan's murder before it happens?

She encourages it.

Related questions

What did messenger report to Macbeth?

In Act 5 Scene 5 of the Shakespearean play, a Messenger gained entrance into the royal castle at Dunsinane. The bearer of bad news usually suffered at the hands of the recipient of the bad news. So the messenger understandably was worried exactly how to tell Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057] of the latest unfavorable developments. The news was not only bad, but weird. The messenger was in the uncomfortable position of telling Macbeth that Birnam Wood was moving towards Dunsinane. Macbeth didn't like the news. One of the predictions that the three witches had shared with him about his future career moves was the threat of Birnam Wood moving to Dunsinane. What neither the Messenger nor Macbeth knew at the time was the plucking and carrying of forest boughs by the 10,000 soldiers under Siward, Earl of Northumberland and General of the English forces. The boughs were intended to camouflage and protect the soldiers as they marched to their chosen battlegrounds outside Macbeth's royal residence.


What does a pine mean in Macbeth?

In Macbeth, the line "Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinane" refers to the witches' prophecy that Macbeth will only be defeated when Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. This prophecy is fulfilled when Malcolm's army disguises themselves with branches from Birnam Wood, giving the appearance that the forest is moving toward Dunsinane and fulfilling the witches' prophecy.


In Macbeth who said Till Birnam wood remove to Dunsinane?

Nobody, actually. The third apparition, a crowned child holding a tree, says this: Macbeth shall never vanquish'd be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill Shall come against him. Later Macbeth, to reassure himself, says this: I will not be afraid of death and bane, Till Birnam forest come to Dunsinane. Later still Macbeth says this when it is reported to him that Birnam Wood appears to be approaching Dunsinane. 'Fear not, till Birnam wood Do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood Comes toward Dunsinane.


What is Macbeth referring to when she says to doubt the equivocation of the fiend?

I see that in your production you have cast Macbeth with a woman. That's interesting. (otherwise you must say "he says" not "she says") The quotation you are referring to is: If thou speak'st false, Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive, Till famine cling thee: if thy speech be sooth, I care not if thou dost for me as much. I pull in resolution, and begin To doubt the equivocation of the fiend That lies like truth: 'Fear not, till Birnam wood Do come to Dunsinane:' and now a wood Comes toward Dunsinane. He's speaking to a messenger who has just told him that Birnam wood is coming to Dunsinane, an event about which he said, earlier in the play, "That can never be!" As the passage clearly shows, he says that if the messenger is telling the truth, he cannot rely on the prophecy "fear not, till Birnam wood do come to Dunsinane", because it is "equivocation"--it seems to say one thing and means another. And who is the "fiend that lies like truth"? You'll need three guesses because there were three of them around that cauldron.


What did Macduff discover in Macbeth?

In Act 4 Scene 1, the three witches warned Macbeth to beware of Macduff. They also assured him that he was undefeatable except under two circumstances. One was the movement of Birnam Wood to Dunsinane Castle. The other was the power of a man not born of woman. In Act 5 Scene 6, Macbeth was told by a Messenger of the movement of Birnam Wood toward Dunsinane Castle. But Macbeth wasn't worried. His biggest fear was of the man not born of woman. In Act 5 Scene 9, Macbeth and Macduff found themselves on the same part of the battlefield outside of Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth still wasn't worried. But his worries began with a surprise piece of news from Macduff. Macduff explained that he had been delivered by Caesarian section from a dead mother. Therefore, he was delivered, not born. Neither was he born of woman. Instead, he was born of a corpse.


What emotion does Macbeth express toward the doctor?

Macbeth expresses frustration and impatience toward the doctor, demanding that he cure Lady Macbeth's illness quickly.


When does Macbeth know he is in trouble?

A servant tells him that Birnam Forest is moving toward Dunsinane. Macbeth says, "I pull in resolution and begin to doubt the equivocation of the fiend that lies like truth. 'Fear not till Birnam Wood do come to Dunsinane', and now a wood do come to Dunsinane." One of the things that he thought never could happen has happened, because the prophecies are equivocal.


Do lady Macbeth's and Macbeth's soliloquies add to the sense that the characters are moving toward disaster?

Probably


Lady Macbeth's attitude toward Duncan's murder before it happens?

She encourages it.


What does macbeth's behavior toward the servant who comes to deliver a message ultimately show about macbeth's character?

Macbeth's behavior towards the servant who comes to deliver a message shows his callous and ruthless nature. He is dismissive and cruel, displaying a lack of empathy and concern for others. This interaction highlights Macbeth's descent into tyranny and his increasing disregard for human life.


Coming from the sea toward the land?

land breeze


What is a sentence for whirlwind?

There is a whirlwind coming toward my house.