Act 1, Scene 5 – Lady Macbeth Plots Against Duncan
Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth. The Macbeths plot to kill Duncan.
“I burned in desire”
Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth, about the Witches and their prophecies in a letter
– he is fascinated.
“Weird sisters”
Macbeth overlooks the evil of the Witches and calls them ‘sisters’, making them look
normal and ordinary.
“My dearest partner of greatness”
Macbeth sees Lady Macbeth as an equal partner, which was not seen in the
Shakespearean period, suggesting Lady Macbeth is powerful.
“Too full o’th’milk of human kindness” – Character: Macbeth
Lady Macbeth has no doubts to kill Duncan and immediately sees that she will have to
force Macbeth to do the murder as she assumes he will hesitate over killing Duncan. This
suggests that, at this point, Macbeth is not completely evil.
The letter is positive but has negativity within because Macbeth does not include
Banquo’s predictions as it shows they won’t have children which might suggest early
death. It shows that Macbeth is jealous of Banquo and also shows that he might be
weak. He might also hide because of his ambition or that Lady Macbeth won’t be against
the idea of murdering Duncan.
“Raven”
This bird is usually associated with evil, darkness and death which might suggest that
Lady Macbeth is evil.
“Come, you spirits” – Theme: Good and Evil
Lady Macbeth’s dark and terrifying soliloquy shows how evil she is. Her reference links
with the Witches.
“Unsex me here” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Lady Macbeth asks spirits to make her strong and brave as she doesn’t want to be a
woman because she sees women as weak and incapable of murder.
“Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall” – Theme: Good and Evil
Lady Macbeth asked for something good (‘milk’) to turn into something bad (‘gall’ –
acid). This shows how evil she is.
“Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark”
This foreshadows how Duncan is murdered in his sleep. Lady Macbeth asks her
conscience to try not to stop as she is afraid God and her conscience will stop her.
“Greater Glamis, worthy Cawdor” – Theme: Supernatural
Lady Macbeth’s greeting echoes the Witches’ language from Scene 3, suggesting that the
spirits are upon her.
“Be the serpent under’t” – Theme: Reality and Appearances
Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to deceive Duncan by pretending to be something
Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth. The Macbeths plot to kill Duncan.
“I burned in desire”
Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth, about the Witches and their prophecies in a letter
– he is fascinated.
“Weird sisters”
Macbeth overlooks the evil of the Witches and calls them ‘sisters’, making them look
normal and ordinary.
“My dearest partner of greatness”
Macbeth sees Lady Macbeth as an equal partner, which was not seen in the
Shakespearean period, suggesting Lady Macbeth is powerful.
“Too full o’th’milk of human kindness” – Character: Macbeth
Lady Macbeth has no doubts to kill Duncan and immediately sees that she will have to
force Macbeth to do the murder as she assumes he will hesitate over killing Duncan. This
suggests that, at this point, Macbeth is not completely evil.
The letter is positive but has negativity within because Macbeth does not include
Banquo’s predictions as it shows they won’t have children which might suggest early
death. It shows that Macbeth is jealous of Banquo and also shows that he might be
weak. He might also hide because of his ambition or that Lady Macbeth won’t be against
the idea of murdering Duncan.
“Raven”
This bird is usually associated with evil, darkness and death which might suggest that
Lady Macbeth is evil.
“Come, you spirits” – Theme: Good and Evil
Lady Macbeth’s dark and terrifying soliloquy shows how evil she is. Her reference links
with the Witches.
“Unsex me here” – Shakespeare’s Techniques
Lady Macbeth asks spirits to make her strong and brave as she doesn’t want to be a
woman because she sees women as weak and incapable of murder.
“Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall” – Theme: Good and Evil
Lady Macbeth asked for something good (‘milk’) to turn into something bad (‘gall’ –
acid). This shows how evil she is.
“Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark”
This foreshadows how Duncan is murdered in his sleep. Lady Macbeth asks her
conscience to try not to stop as she is afraid God and her conscience will stop her.
“Greater Glamis, worthy Cawdor” – Theme: Supernatural
Lady Macbeth’s greeting echoes the Witches’ language from Scene 3, suggesting that the
spirits are upon her.
“Be the serpent under’t” – Theme: Reality and Appearances
Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to deceive Duncan by pretending to be something
