Lady Macbeth Flashcards
Who is Lady Macbeth?
Lady Macbeth is the wife of Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. She is ambitious, manipulative, and plays a key role in persuading Macbeth to murder King Duncan.
How does Lady Macbeth persuade Macbeth to kill King Duncan?
She questions his masculinity, calls him a coward, and reassures him that they will not fail if they are bold and ruthless.
What does Lady Macbeth mean by ‘unsex me here’?
In Act 1, Scene 5, she asks the spirits to remove her femininity so she can be ruthless and commit cruel deeds without guilt or weakness.
How does Lady Macbeth change throughout the play?
She starts as a strong, ambitious character but later becomes consumed by guilt, leading to sleepwalking and, ultimately, her death.
What is the significance of Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking scene?
In Act 5, Scene 1, her sleepwalking and obsessive hand-washing symbolize her overwhelming guilt for the murders she helped orchestrate.
How does Lady Macbeth’s death affect Macbeth?
Macbeth is initially indifferent, saying, ‘She should have died hereafter,’ showing his descent into nihilism and despair.
What does Lady Macbeth’s character reveal about themes in Macbeth?
She embodies themes of ambition, guilt, gender roles, and the psychological consequences of unchecked power.
