This document details how Lady Macbeth is presented by Shakespeare in Act 1. Quotes, evidence and grade 9, in-depth analysis are included. Remember these for an easy top mark.
The Representation of Lady Macbeth: Act 1 Scenes 5-7
Scene Personality Evidence Analysis
Trait
1.5 critical ‘too full o’ th’ milk of human The soliloquy allows us to see what Lady Macbeth truly thinks of her husband, and
kindness…to catch the nearest enables us to see her criticism and doubt of Macbeth. Her criticism is shown
way’ through the adverb ‘too’, suggesting it is excessive and undesirable. The noun
‘milk’ is a symbol of maternity, giving connotations of innocence and children. This
conveys that Lady Macbeth sees her husband as childlike (he still needs to be
nurtured and guided) and ‘too’ innocent to do what it takes (‘catch the nearest
way’) to become King. She sees these traits as weaknesses in Macbeth.
1.5. malevolent ‘fill me from the crown to the toe Lady Macbeth's wish to be filled “from the crown” shows that she believes her
top-full / Of direst cruelty’ “crown” is already a natural part of her body, showing her desire for power. Her
obsession of power (and the abuse of it) is further emphasised as she is willing to
be stripped of her mortal qualities, but only wants to preserve her “crown”, and be
filled with “direst cruelty”. This displays her sinister, malevolent intentions, as the
superlative of “direst” shows that she doesn’t want to be just cruel enough to go
through with the plan, but the most cruel, and doesn’t want any room in her body
for any other emotion.
1.6 deceitful ‘our honoured hostess’ (Duncan) Duncan’s choice of adjectives appears highly ironic as we are already aware of her
plot to kill him. The alliteration in ‘honoured hostess’ puts emphasis on the
‘All our service…done double’ dramatic irony while the lexis ‘our’ brings a sense of familiarity and friendship
(Lady M) between Duncan and Lady Macbeth, which is also heavily ironic as Lady Macbeth
was actually planning his death (in secret). This is one of Shakespeare’s key
‘your majesty’ ‘your highness’ themes, displaying that appearances can be deceitful. Lady Macbeth is almost
(Lady M) mocking Duncan as she calls him ‘your majesty’ and ‘your highness’ as she is
planning to take that title away from him. It foreshadows Duncan’s death and the
changing of titles to her husband.
1.7 manipulative ‘When you durst do it, then you Lady Macbeth is manipulating Macbeth here by challenging and attacking his
were a man’ masculinity. The past tense of ‘were’ suggests that his bravery and masculinity are
now lost as he is backing out of the plan, which will influence him to want to go
‘you would be so much more the through with the plan in order to prove his courage and manhood to his wife. The
man’ repetition of ‘man’ puts further emphasis on the challenge and what he lacks.
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