Lady Macbeth Flashcards
(Act 1 scene 5) Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here
She talks in imperative sentences which go against typical Jacobean women as they were meant to be submissive and quiet.
The verb “unsex” shows she is very frustrated as she is a women with many limitations. She wasn’t to fulfil her ambition of being a man.
Themes- ambition and supernatural as she will do anything even tie herself with the evil spirits to become powerful.
Context- she was seen as the 4th witch by the audience as she was such a powerful women
(Act 1 scene 5) “Look like the innocent flower,but be the serpent under it.”
She’s master of deception as she can use her femininity to create sympathy but she uses it to mislead and deceive people.
Uses the juxtaposition of flower and serpent as flower is meant to be fragile loyal and soft but be a serpent and a snake to be a threat. She tries to make Macbeth more powerful.
Themes- reality and appearance, Shakespeare trying to show people not believe what you see.
Context- Divine right of kings as she tries to influence Macbeth to kill the king
(Act 1 Scene 7) “When you durst do it, then you were man”
She is able to manipulate Macbeth to kill the king by questioning his masculinity as he wants to show how manly he is
Alliteration of “durst do” shows she is being powerful when talking to Macbeth when in Jacobean times it should be the other way.
Themes- ambition- Lady Macbeth sees ambition as a sign of power and strength and she will do anything to become queen even using Macbeth.
Context- Shows how the marriage was unconventional as in Jacobean times the man should be calling the shots but in the play the wife is.
(Act 2 scene 2) “The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ‘ tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil.”
She is mocking Macbeth of being scared of dead bodies and blood by saying that only children are afraid of this. She says dead bodies are like pictures after Macbeth can’t go back in and look at Duncan.
Metaphor of “picture” shows that Lacy Macbeth is cruel and lacks humanity.
Theme- ambition as it shows Lady Macbeth will kill the king and frame others to be queen.
Context-King James found women like Lady Macbeth scary.
(Act 5 scene 1) “Out damned spot! Out i say!”
Shows how from the beginning of the play she was evil and cruel but by act 5 she is guilty and can’t believe what she has done and even starts hallucinating blood on her hands.
The repetition of “Out” shows how overwhelmed she is by the guilt and that everything she is done is wrong and she can’t live with it. She knows God is angry with her.
Themes- supernatural as it shows that the supernatural will cause your downfall. Guilt- As she is seeing things which shows she is guilty
Context- Gods punishing her for all of her sins
