LADY MACBETH

Question 1

Act 1 Scene 5: Lady
Macbeth helps coach Macbeth on deceiving Duncan.

Answer 1

A1S5 - ‘To beguile the
time, […] Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ’t.’

Question 2

A1S5 - ‘To beguile the
time, […] Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ’t.’

Answer 2

• imperatives ‘look’ and ‘be’ highlight Lady Macbeth’s
  dominance and control in the situation, subverting typical
  Jacobean gender expectations
• Biblical allusion to the Garden of Eden symbolises Lady Macbeth’s immoral temptation of Macbeth, which foreshadows the tragic downfall of both characters
• juxtaposition between the harmless ‘flower’ and the
  venomous ‘serpent’ reinforces the potentially devastating
  consequences of excessive ambition.

Question 3

Act 1 Scene 7: Lady
Macbeth persuades Macbeth that regicide is the right
thing to do after he begins to doubt their plan.

Answer 3

A1S7 - ‘Was the hope
drunk wherein you
dressed yourself?’

Question 4

A1S7 - ‘Was the hope
drunk wherein you
dressed yourself?’

Answer 4

• rhetorical question mocks Macbeth’s doubt, using derisive
  language to manipulate him into following through with the
  murder of Duncan.
• the tone challenges traditional gender roles, with Lady
  Macbeth assuming a dominant and assertive role,
  questioning Macbeth’s masculinity and courage.
  *Lady Macbeth’s taunt reflects the theme of unchecked
  ambition, as she pushes Macbeth to act on their shared desire for power, regardless of the moral consequences.

Question 5

Lady Macbeth - early in the play
Line of Arguement

Answer 5

Early in the play, Lady Macbeth feels an overwhelming ambition for Macbeth to become king, and
thus persuades him to commit regicide.

Question 6

Lady Macbeth - later in the play
Line of Arguement

Answer 6

Later in the play, Lady Macbeth realises the consequences of her actions and ambition, leading ultimately to her tragic death.

Question 7

Act 3 Scene 4: Lady Macbeth attempts to regain control when Banquo’s ghost appears to Macbeth.

Answer 7

A3S4: ‘Are you a man?’

Question 8

A3S4: ‘Are you a man?’

Answer 8

• the direct question from Lady Macbeth challenges
  Macbeth’s manhood, a recurring tactic she uses to control
  and motivate him.
• The irony in the question lies in Macbeth’s increasing
  paranoia and instability, which starkly contrast with the
  traditional qualities of strength and bravery associated with
  masculinity.
• The question highlights the psychological strain on Macbeth,
  as he grapples with the guilt and fear resulting from his actions, leading to his deteriorating mental state.

Question 9

Act 5 Scene 1:
While sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth acknowledges the guilt and remorse she feels.

Answer 9

A5S1: ‘Out, damned spot. Out I say!’ ‘The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?’

Question 10

A5S1: ‘Out, damned spot. Out I say!’ ‘The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?’

Answer 10

• The "spot" denotes the bloodstains of guilt that Lady
  Macbeth cannot wash away, which symbolise her
  overwhelming sense of remorse and the psychological
  impact of her involvement in the murders.
• the repeated imperative ‘out’ emphasises Lady Macbeth's
  obsessive attempt to remove the imaginary spot and her
  descent into madness.
• Her fragmented speech and repetition indicate her disturbed
  state of mind and the inescapability of guilt, especially about the death of another woman, the ‘wife’ of the ‘Thane of Fife’.