Act 1, Scene 5 Flashcards
What happens in Act 1, Scene 5?
Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband about his encounter with the witches. She fears that her husband is ‘too full o’th’milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way’ of achieving the throne. She wants him to come home quickly so that she can ‘pour’ her words of ambition into his ears. She is interrupted by news that the king is coming to the castle that evening and that Macbeth is already on his way. She celebrates the ‘fatal entrance’ of Duncan into their home. She calls on the spirits to ‘unsex’ her and make her capable of murder. Macbeth arrives home and Lady Macbeth immediately plants the seed of her murderous intentions. She advises him to hide their plans with innocence, but be a ‘serpent’ underneath.
What is some context regarding the role of women?
Shakespeare presents a powerful and assertive woman in the form of Lady Macbeth. Many have argued that she is the driving force in the relationship and goes against the stereotypical roles of women at this time.
What is a quote that shows violence and the unnatural?
‘Look like the innocent flower,
But be the serpent under it.’
What is the device used in this quote?
The device used in this quote is metaphor. Macbeth employs the metaphor of an innocent flower to represent a facade of purity or harmlessness and the metaphor of a serpent to symbolize hidden deceit or danger.
What is some analysis of this quote?
Macbeth is advising someone (possibly Lady Macbeth) to maintain a deceptive outward appearance (‘look like the innocent flower’) while concealing a more sinister nature beneath (‘be the serpent under it’). This suggests a strategy of appearing harmless and virtuous while harboring malicious intentions, highlighting the theme of deceit and manipulation.
How does this quote link to violence?
The advice to “be the serpent under” suggests a hidden capacity for harm or violence. In Macbeth, the pursuit of power and ambition often leads to violent actions. The quote foreshadows the violent deeds that Lady Macbeth and, later, Macbeth himself will commit in their quest for political dominance and the throne. The serpent imagery hints at the potential for deadly actions concealed beneath an innocent exterio
How does this quote link to the unnatural?
The supernatural element in Macbeth is primarily associated with the witches and their prophecies. While the quote itself doesn’t explicitly mention the supernatural, it occurs in a play where supernatural forces play a significant role. The witches’ influence on Macbeth, their prophecies, and the unnatural occurrences that follow all contribute to the overall supernatural atmosphere. The deceptive advice in the quote aligns with the supernatural theme as characters navigate prophecies and supernatural influences in their pursuit of power.
What is some analysis of the quote ‘to full o’th the milk of human kindness’?
- ‘Milk’ compares him to a baby.
- She’s worried that Macbeth is too good of a man to go through with murder.
What is the quote ‘to full o’th the milk of human kindness’ a blow at?
Macbeths manliness.
What is another quote that links to the unnatural and ambition?
Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts! unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty; make thick my blood,
What was the device used in this quote?
The key device used in this quote is the imperative command. Lady Macbeth addresses unseen spirits, commanding them to “unsex” her and fill her with cruelty.
What is some analysis of this quote?
Lady Macbeth is expressing her intense desire for power and the throne. By asking to be “unsexed” and filled with cruelty, she is essentially requesting to be stripped of traditional feminine qualities and infused with the ruthless and violent attributes typically associated with men. The imagery of “make thick my blood” suggests a desensitization to feelings of compassion and remorse.
How does this quote link to the unnatural?
The invocation of spirits also ties into the supernatural theme of the play. Lady Macbeth’s willingness to seek assistance from supernatural forces emphasizes the extent of her ambition and foreshadows the dark consequences that will follow.
How does this quote link to ambition?
The quote explores the theme of gender, as Lady Macbeth rejects traditional feminine qualities to embrace a more assertive and ruthless persona. This transformation is directly linked to the theme of ambition, as she is willing to discard societal expectations in her pursuit of power.
What does this soliloquy mark in terms of Lady Macbeth?
This soliloquy marks a turning point for Lady Macbeth, signaling her commitment to a path of ruthless ambition. It sets the stage for the couple’s descent into moral corruption and the unfolding tragedy driven by their ambitious pursuits.
What does Lady Macbeth do in terms of Macbeth after her soliloquy?
When Macbeth enters the room she switches up.
What did she say when Macbeth entered the room?
‘Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor, Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter’
What is some analysis of ‘Great Glamis, worthy cawdor, Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter’?
Attempts to flatter Macbeth by showering him in praise so as to gain control over him.
What does the symbol of a raven in Lady Macbeths soliloquy show?
It is a metaphor for a messenger/ symbol of death.
