Lady Macbeths Soliloquey

Question 1

‘Come, you spirits’-lady macbeth

Act 1

Answer 1

This is an imperative sentence, which is expressing power which in Jacobean times would be unusual for a lady. Also, there is a link to the witches as she is becoming more powerful, and maybe like a fourth witch.

Question 2

‘Come to my woman’s breasts,
And take my milk for gall’- lady macbeth

Act 1

Answer 2

Lady Macbeth says as she prepares herself to commit murder. The language suggests that her womanhood, represented by breasts and milk, usually symbols of nurture, impedes her from performing acts of violence and cruelty, which she associates with manliness.

She is becoming more like a witch and is getting rid of her femininity.

Question 3

‘make thick my blood’- lady macbeth

Act 1

Answer 3

She wants to become more masculine and not feel bad for killing Duncan.

Question 4

‘Raven’- lady macbeth

Act 1

Answer 4

Link to death

Question 5

Main goals of Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy

Answer 5

To get rid of her femininity
To become more powerful

Everything to allow her and MB to kill Duncan

Question 6

Why is enjambment used in lady Macbeths soliloquy

Answer 6

To emphasise the idea that her emotions of ambition and power are literally overwhelming her and have taken her over (new witch)

Question 7

Why is a caesura used in lady Macbeths soliloquy

Answer 7

To show that although she is evidently very hungry for power and killing Duncan, there is still a part of her left unchanged and worrying.

Question 8

Why does lady Macbeth’s soliloquy happen at night

Answer 8

To give a sense of darkness as she is becoming more like a new witch.
Darkness in associated with death (Duncan)
Foreshadowing future outcomes
To show a motif for power and bad things