Act 1 Scene 5

Question 1

“I fear thy nature, it is too full o’th’milk of human kindness”

Answer 1

Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth is too full of “human kindness” to rise to power and accomplish what must be done.

Question 2

“Come you spirits”

Answer 2

Lady Macbeth is interacting with the supernatural. Lady Macbeth is also commanding the spirits to come to her, emphasising her evilness.

Question 3

“unsex me here”

Answer 3

Lady Macbeth is calling upon spirits to take away her feminine feelings - emasculation.
This shows contextually how men were considered to be more ‘powerful’.

Question 4

“Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall”

Answer 4

Juxtaposition of two liquids.
Milk = innocence, femininity
Gall = Bitter poison (motif) / Pure evil

The Jacobean era would be shocked by the evil and supernatural, as Lady Macbeth calls for spirits to help her.

Question 5

“Look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.”

Answer 5

Simile, possibly juxtaposes.
Example of Lady Macbeth being duplicitous (two-face).

Basically means for Macbeth to act good to Duncan, but instead kill him.