Act 5 Scene 1 Flashcards
overview of act V scene i
lady macbeth walks in her sleep, dreaming about the murder of duncan
How does this scene show Lady Macbeth’s downfall?
- She was once ruthless and confident but is now mentally broken.
- Her guilt manifests through sleepwalking and hallucinations.
- Contrasts with earlier scenes where she dismissed Macbeth’s guilt.
portrayal of LM
- first time the audience see LM since things have started to go wrong - her character has completely changed
- she has been driven mad by guilt and fear
finish the quote: ‘has light by her..
…continually’
‘has light by her continually’
- carries a candle
- she is afraid of the dark
- IRONIC - in Act I Scene v - she welcomes the darkness
- ‘come, thick night’
- night now reminds her of the evil she has done
Finish the quote: ‘Out, damned spot!…
…Out I say!’
‘Out, damned spot! Out, I say!’
”- Lady Macbeth tries to scrub imaginary blood from her hands.
- Symbolizes her overwhelming guilt and descent into madness.
- Contrasts with her earlier belief that ‘a little water clears us of this deed.’”
How does LM’s language change?
- changes to reveal her guilty conscience
- her speech changes from smooth and fluent blank verse to disjointed prose and broken syntax - shows her troubled state of mind
- her speech is uncertain - ‘the thane of fife had a wife - where is she now?’
- use of questions shows her mental confusion and contrasts with her domineering language in Act I Scene vii
finish the quote: ‘Hell..
..is murky!’
How does Shakespeare use LM’s sleepwalking?
- to reveal her inner thoughts
Finish the quote: ‘Yet who would have thought…’
"’…the old man to have had so much blood in him?’”
‘Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?’
- Refers to Duncan’s murder
finish the quote: ‘all the perfumes..
..of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand / Oh, oh, oh!’
‘all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand / Oh, oh, oh!’
- hyperbolic
- three Oh! -> LM is becoming pathetic - a character who is being reduced
Finish the quote: ‘What’s done…’
"’…cannot be undone.’”
‘What’s done cannot be undone.’
- Contrasts with her earlier statement: ‘What’s done is done.’
- Shows she now regrets the murders.
- Reflects the irreversible nature of guilt and fate.
Finish the quote: ‘The Thane of Fife…’
"’…had a wife. Where is she now?’”
‘The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?’
”- Suggests that Lady Macbeth knows about Lady Macduff’s murder.
- Her guilt extends beyond Duncan to other victims of Macbeth’s tyranny.
- Reflects her fractured mental state
What does Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking symbolize?
- Her subconscious mind revealing the guilt she tried to suppress.
- Shows that she cannot escape the consequences of her actions.
- A physical manifestation of her psychological torment.
finish the quote: ‘unnatural deeds…
…/Do breed unnatural troubles’
‘unnatural deeds/Do breed unnatural troubles’
- doctor says this
- LM has upset the natural balance by doing evil things
- reminds the audience of the unnatural things reported in Act II Scene iv
What does the Doctor say about Lady Macbeth’s condition?
- He says her illness is beyond medical help: ‘More needs she the divine than the physician.’
- Suggests she needs spiritual healing, not physical treatment.
- Acknowledges that guilt has consumed her completely.
finish the quote: ‘I think..
..but dare not speak’
‘I think, but dare not speak’
- doctor
- highlights the power of M’s tyranny
Why is the Gentlewoman afraid to speak about Lady Macbeth’s confessions?
- She fears being punished for revealing what a queen has said.
- Suggests that Macbeth’s reign has created a culture of fear.
- Shows that even servants recognize Lady Macbeth’s guilt.
How does this scene contrast Lady Macbeth’s earlier character?
- She once mocked Macbeth’s guilt but is now overwhelmed by her own.
- She was once in control, now she is vulnerable and broken.
- Highlights the consequences of unchecked ambition and moral corruption.
How does this scene foreshadow Lady Macbeth’s death?
- Her erratic behavior suggests she cannot live with her guilt.
- The Doctor’s statement implies she is beyond saving.
- Her repetition of ‘to bed, to bed’ suggests an eternal rest (suicide).
How does this scene connect to the theme of guilt?
- Lady Macbeth is tormented by her past actions.
- Her inability to wash away the ‘blood’ shows that guilt is permanent.
- Contrasts with Macbeth, who suppresses guilt and embraces tyranny.
What is the significance of Lady Macbeth’s hallucinations?
- They reveal her deep psychological suffering.
- The ‘blood’ symbolizes the weight of her crimes.
- Suggests that guilt manifests physically and mentally.
