We have reached the end of Macbeth, both literally and symbolically. The scenes in this final act are short giving us the impression that events are moving quickly against Macbeth.

In this act, you'll read a speech by Macbeth that compares life to a "brief candle." George Bernard Shaw, a famous English playwright (1856-1950), disagreed. He said, "Life is not a 'brief candle.' It is a splendid torch that I want to make burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." His take on life is certainly more upbeat than Macbeth's.

 

Hubris is extreme arrogance. This is a tragic flaw of Macbeth's. When we use the word hubris, we often mean that the person has overestimated his own powers.

Catharsis is a purging of the feelings of pity and fear that occur in the audience of a tragedy. There is some debate to whether or not the audience experiences catharsis in Macbeth. Do you feel pity or hatred for Macbeth?

Catastrophe is the final action that completes the unraveling of the plot in a play. The catastrophe is synonymous with the denouement, which is the play's end.