Macbeth key quotes (Appearance vs reality)

Question 1

Act 1(LB)- “ Come you spirits[…] Unsex me here”

Answer 1

Lady Macbeth is calling on evil spirits to take away her feminine traits

Shakespeare has LM use imperative verbs (come,unsex) when commanding evil spirits

The fact shes commanding evil spirits show her hubris

LM wants to subvert typical female jacobean stereotypes

Question 2

act 1(LB)- “Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent underneath it”

Answer 2

Lady Macbeth is suggesting that Macbeth hide his true, treasonous self from King Duncan

This quotation is reflective of Lady Macbeth’s duplicitous nature

Her use of the imperative verb “look” also shows her power over Macbeth

The “serpent” has religious connotations to adam and eve and the fall of man

This could be Shakespeare suggesting that committing blasphemous acts will always lead to ruin

Question 3

Act 5(Lb)-“Out, damned spot: out, I say!”

Answer 3

uses lots of punctuation to reflect her disjointed mind

uses repetition (“out”) to show her increasing desperation

Question 4

Act 2 (LB)-“A little water clears us of this deed”

Act 5(LB)-“All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”

Answer 4

Lady Macbeth displays hubris when she confidently asserts that she and her husband will not be troubled by feelings of guilt or remorse

Her confidence contrasts with Macbeth’s belief that all the water in “Neptune’s ocean” couldn’t wash the blood (symbolising guilt) from his hand
“Hands” here represent responsibility

It is ironic that later in the play, Lady Macbeth sees blood on her hands (guilt and responsibility for the murder of Duncan)

Shakespeare could be suggesting that once Lady Macbeth accepted responsibility for the murder, the guilt was overwhelming