lady M x M

Question 1

overall idea x2

Answer 1

• unnaturally strong at beginning - warning of imminent and inevitable fail
• fractures overtime until it is unrecognisable

Question 2

in the exposition of the play…

A1S5 “My dearest partner in greatness…”

Answer 2

-“dearest”
–> emotive superlative adjective - term of endearment and clear depiction of Lm’s valued position
-“partner”
–> suggests equality - unusual in Jacobean era suggestive to contemporary audience of perhaps a positive but unusual from the outset planting seeds of doubt in their mind
-“greatness”
–> lexical choice connotes ambition
—-> introduces idea of ambition within relationship which although provides a partnership at the start not creates fissures overtime
(ADD part about M’s manipulation to gain LM’s help)

Question 3

struggle for power sparks rapid downfall spiral in subsequent scenes
A1S7 M”We will proceed no further in this business”

Answer 3

A1S7 M”We will proceed no further in this business”
-declarative exudes masculinity embracing gender roles
–> negation ‘no’ indicates definitive attitude
LM ‘when you durst do it then you were a man”
- emasculates M into following plan
-verb ‘durst’ meaning to dare – risk taking and toxicity (as this is a life at their hands and the mental effects after)
- a contemporary audience would be severely uncomfortable with unapologetic feminine power - ( a villain) but perhaps this heinous act would fill her void of a lost child
-HARSH SPEECH DISPLAYS DEEPENING FISSURES-

Question 4

power shift and distance widened due to their differing response to the heinous act of regicide

Answer 4

• LM “say to the king” - “would attend his leisure” (to a servant)
• -> status reduced as she is far less than M
• -> DROK blinds Macbeth’s vision = egotistical (ironic as LM got him there and now he disregards her critical of society’s treatment of women - cautionary tale on the patriarchy and it’s effects it will have on society as women must go to great lengths to gain power - and then recognition)
• their differing responses to regicide separates them as Macbeth is trapped in a continuous day ‘Macbeth doth murder sleep’ and LM sleepwalks ‘to bed; to bed’ trapped in a never ending night