lady macbeth Flashcards
P1 - first impression - manipulative, control in relationship
point - When we first meet Lady Macbeth she appears to be a very manipulative and controlling character, who lacks a moral compass and has the power in her and her husband’s relationship.
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- “Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness”.
(The word choice of “milk of human kindness” highlights Lady Macbeth’s disapproval of Macbeth’s compassion and good will, she recognizes it could get in the way of their ambitions; for Macbeth to murder the king and become king himself. Lady Macbeth worries that despite her husband’s ambition he does not have the right nature necessary to complete the murders required to become king.) - Lady Macbeth appears desperate to carry out this heinous murder asking the following of the spirits; “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here And fill me from the crown to the toe topfull Of direst cruelty”
(The word choice of “unsex me” highlights Lady Macbeth’s wish to remove everything feminine about herself, for example nurture and gentleness that are associated with femininity, in order to be capable of these murders. The word choice of “direst cruelty” highlights the obvious lack of goodness in her character, and demonstrates her sheer determination to become completely evil and be capable of committing these crimes in order to fulfil her personal ambition, without having to worry about the punishing nature of human conscience.) - “…look like th’innocent flower. But be the serpent under’t”.
(This use of word choice highlights Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth he should look innocent and trustworthy like a flower so no one suspects of their deadly plans, but act like a murderous serpent. Snakes are associated with danger and something sinister, highlighting their sinister intentions. This displays again Lady Macbeth clearly has control in their relationship and is orchestrating most of Macbeth’s actions, also agin highlights her cruel evil nature. )
P2 - manipulates her husband into killing the king, important - she’s manipulative
point - Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband into killing the King, which is a highly significant scene in the play, influencing every event that comes afterwards. This action tells us she is a manipulative character who has a desire for power and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.
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- Lady Macbeth says, “…Wouldst thou…live a coward in thine own esteem,”
( This use of word choice highlights Lady Macbeth is calling her husband a coward if he does not follow through with this murder, as we know Macbeth was known to be “Brave Macbeth” and a courageous soldier, this insult is bound to strike a nerve in him. Lady Macbeth knows this and is effectively manipulating him into doing what she wants.) - “When you durst do it, then you were a man”
(Here Lady Macbeth insults Macbeth’s masculinity insinuating he is not a man and will only be if he follows through with the murder. Attacking his masculinity would hurt his pride, this emphasises Lady Macbeth is trying to get power over him and manipulate him into doing what she wants.) - “I would, while it was smiling in my face,/Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums/And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you/Have done to this.”
(This imagery of Lady Macbeth tearing away her child during breastfeeding, something so natural, to kill her baby emphasises just how far she would be willing to go to ensure this murder is completed. The word choice and imagery of “dashed the brains out” is particularly brutal and emphasises her dark almost evil nature, the very thing she fears her husband lacks. The word choice of “smiling” emphasises just how cruel is willing to be when this baby, the pinnacle of innocence, is smiling and showing joy she would still be willing to kill it.)
P3 - cold after duncan murder, lack of guilt, shows macbeth nothing wrong with it
point - During and after the murder of Duncan Lady Macbeth displays a coldness, which reveals her character lacks guilt and care for other people, her indifference to the murder further encourages Macbeth to continue and that there is nothing wrong with what they are doing.
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- Lady Macbeth tells her husband, “…The sleeping and the dead Are but pictures”.
(This use of word choice highlights Lady Macbeth appears unbothered by Macbeth’s worry about the murder, the word choice of “but pictures” highlights the dead’s unimportance, and therefore suggests she views any worry about it to be a waste of time. This demonstrates a very inhumane, cold reaction to something so horrifying.) - “My hands are of your colour, but I shame To wear a heart so white”
(This use of word choice of “my hands are of your colour” highlights that like Macbeth Lady Macbeth’s hands are stained with blood, literally and metaphorically, with blood on hands representing guilt and wrongdoing in the play. However the metaphor of “but I shame to wear a heart so white” highlights Lady Macbeth is saying she would be ashamed to show such guilt and cowardice as Macbeth, with a white heart representing a coward, as it is white due to a lack of blood. She is claiming unlike Macbeth she feels no guilt and to feel this is embarrassing and weak.) - “A little water clears us of this deed.” This use of word choice highlights Lady Macbeth is trying to reason with her husband. Blood in the play is representative of guilt from the murders, with Lady Macbeth later descending into madness trying to scrub her hands clean of blood, so here she is claiming their wrongdoing and guilty conscience can be erased by just a splash of water. This highlights a difference in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, she believes this to be a small thing, no huge deal, whereas he sees the enormity of the murder and how wrong it was, highlighting again Lady Macbeth is cold and uncaring.
P4 - at the end she is mad because of the guilt - shows she does have a conscience
point - Towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth disappears for some time, and then reappears when Macbeth is awaiting the attack of Malcolm’s forces. When we see her again, she has descended into madness, consumed by the guilt of what they have done, this shows that despite her cruel acts she does in fact have a conscience.
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- “Out, damned spot” Out, I say!”
( This use of word choice demonstrates Lady Macbeth is trying to wash off the metaphorical blood on her hands, this behaviour shows she has fallen into insanity, tortured by the guilt of the murders she has been a paert of. This suggests she is internally suffering as punishment for what she has done, her evil actions have caught up with her and she is facing an end she arguably deserves. )
2.Lady Macbeth questions the whereabouts of Macduff’s wife who was murdered by soldiers sent by Macbeth, “The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?”
(This use of word choice highlights Lady Macbeth feels guilty about her husbands murders and is now disturbed and upset by the future murders he has committed without her input, such as the Thane of Fife’s wife who Macbeth had killed, she recognizes she has sculpted Macbeth into the monster he has now become. This demonstrates a change in Lady Macbeth who was once all too happy to be part of the murders, she has realized her mistakes all too late.)
- “…what’s done cannot be undone”.
(This use of word choice clearly highlights the intense guilt she feels about their crimes, and she realizes the brutal finality of their murders, it is this guilt that ultimately leads to her demise through her suicide. )
