“Drum and Colors. Enter Malcolm, Siward, Macduff, and their army, with boughs.”

🔹 Simple meaning: The army enters with drums, flags, and branches (boughs) from trees.
🔹 Analysis: They’ve cut down tree branches to hide how many soldiers there are — a tactic of disguise and surprise.
🔹 Language technique: Stage direction — the presence of “boughs” links to the witches’ prophecy that Birnam Wood will come to Dunsinane, creating suspense.

---

MALCOLM: “Now near enough. Your leafy screens throw down, And show like those you are.”

🔹 Simple meaning: We’re close enough now. Drop your branches and show yourselves as soldiers.
🔹 Expanded: Malcolm orders his army to throw down their camouflage and get ready to fight visibly.
🔹 Language technique: Metaphor — “leafy screens” = the branches they’ve been holding as a cover.
🔹 Theme: Appearance vs Reality – the soldiers looked like part of the forest, now they reveal their true selves.

---

“You, worthy uncle, Shall with my cousin, your right noble son, Lead our first battle.”

🔹 Simple meaning: Siward (his uncle) and his son will lead the first wave of the attack.
🔹 Expanded: Malcolm is giving leadership roles to respected and experienced men.
🔹 Themes: Loyalty, honor, and family ties — the bond between commanders is emphasized here.
🔹 Technique: Respectful tone — words like “worthy” and “right noble” show how Malcolm values loyalty and courage.

---

“Worthy Macduff and we Shall take upon’s what else remains to do, According to our order.”

🔹 Simple meaning: Macduff and I will take care of the rest of the fighting, as planned.
🔹 Expanded: Malcolm divides the responsibility for battle logically and fairly.
🔹 Themes: Leadership, order vs chaos — Malcolm represents order, in contrast to Macbeth’s tyrannical rule.

---

SIWARD: “Fare you well. Do we but find the tyrant’s power tonight, Let us be beaten if we cannot fight.”

🔹 Simple meaning: Goodbye. If we meet Macbeth’s forces tonight, we deserve to lose if we can’t defeat them.
🔹 Expanded: Siward is confident and courageous. He’s saying they should be ashamed if they can’t win.
🔹 Language technique: Irony and challenge — he dares fate, showing warrior pride.
🔹 Theme: Courage, justice, and rightful rebellion — they believe they are on the side of justice.

---

MACDUFF: “Make all our trumpets speak; give them all breath, Those clamorous harbingers of blood and death.”

🔹 Simple meaning: Sound all the war trumpets — they announce coming violence and battle.
🔹 Expanded: Macduff wants to begin the attack boldly. Trumpets will strike fear and signal destruction.
🔹 Language technique:

• Personification: “trumpets speak” and “give them breath” makes the instruments feel alive.
• Imagery: “clamorous harbingers of blood and death” — loud warnings of the bloody war to come.
  🔹 Themes: Violence, justice vs tyranny, and revenge – Macduff is ready to avenge his family.

---

They exit. Alarums continued.

🔹 Simple meaning: They leave to fight. Battle sounds (alarums) are heard.
🔹 Expanded: The real war begins — this is the final phase of Macbeth’s downfall.
🔹 Theme: Fate, war, and retribution.