Evil/Lady Macbeth

Question 1

“Fear”

“Nature”

“Human kindness”

Answer 1

Lady Macbeth ​“fear[s]”​ Macbeth’s kind nature; fear is typically associated with evil or the supernatural, but in this statement, Lady Macbeth reverses this thought. By fearing Macbeth’s kindness, she implies that ​morality is a frightening​, ​threatening thing​. Alternatively, ​“fear”​ reveals how desperately Lady Macbeth wants to become queen. The ​noun​ ​“nature”​ alludes to Macbeth’s mortal soul and shows that she is referring to Macbeth’s true identity, the parts of himself that he can’t change. Therefore, she is presenting Macbeth as a person whose moral compass and compassion are inherent or permanent. Moreover, by calling it​ “human kindness”,​ she implies Macbeth’s personality is universally recognised to be kind. Shakespeare implies kindness is exclusive to ​“human[s]”​, and is an objective thing, meaning it can’t be disputed or interpreted differently. Macbeth shares his goodness with the rest of the human race, but Lady Macbeth wants to rid herself of it, and take him with her.

Question 2

“Spirits”

Answer 2

This is a pivotal moment in her character development. She is dedicating herself entirely to her conspiracy, even willing to sacrifice her own mind and body to whatever evil “​spirits”​ will help her reach her goal. She views herself as a harbinger of death for Duncan, and so it’s fitting that what follows is, for all extents and purposes, a witch’s spell.

Question 3

“Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, / That my keen knife sees not the wound it makes, / Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,” (1.5)

Answer 3

“Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, / That my keen knife sees not the wound it makes, / Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,” (1.5)​. She asks directly for​ “thick night” and​ “the dunnest smoke of hell”​, meaning she is calling upon​ forces of darkness ​to help her be wicked, whereas Macbeth is more concerned with avoiding​ “light”t​o ​preserve his ‘pure’ soul. However, Lady Macbeth does reveal she is concerned about ​discovery​, wanting to stop​ “heaven peep[ing] through the blanket of the dark”.