Maiya Alladice
Analysis Of Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 7
In Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he doesn’t want to murder King Duncan
anymore. Lady Macbeth doesn’t respond well and starts to belittle him by questioning his
masculinity. She says “When you durst do it, then you were a man” I think Lady Macbeth
says this to show her disappointment in him so she tries to manipulate him into changing his
mind. The repetition of the word ‘You’ shows direct approach which makes Lady Macbeth
sound more intimidating, in a film an actress might emphasise “When you” and “then you”
to show her frustration and shock. She also tries to pressurize him by saying that after she
had finished breastfeeding her baby she would “dashed the brains out, had so sworn as you
Have done this.” Lady Macbeth showing that she is more courageous than Macbeth as she is
acting like the more dominate partner in their relationship because she would keep her
word. She is doing this because she wants to pressure Macbeth into continuing his initial
plans to Kill Duncan.
Further on in the scene Macbeth doubts having a successful outcome of committing the
murder. Lady Macbeth suddenly changes to a soft and reassuring tone and alters the plans
to eliminate her husband’s negative thoughts. It is shown when she says “we’ll not fail… his
day’s journey soundly invite him … his two chamberlains Will I with wine … when in swinish
sleep … what cannot upon Th’ unguarded Duncan” By using this tone Lady Macbeth is subtly
manipulating Macbeth into trusting her as she sounds very confident and reassuring.
Analysis Of Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 7
In Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he doesn’t want to murder King Duncan
anymore. Lady Macbeth doesn’t respond well and starts to belittle him by questioning his
masculinity. She says “When you durst do it, then you were a man” I think Lady Macbeth
says this to show her disappointment in him so she tries to manipulate him into changing his
mind. The repetition of the word ‘You’ shows direct approach which makes Lady Macbeth
sound more intimidating, in a film an actress might emphasise “When you” and “then you”
to show her frustration and shock. She also tries to pressurize him by saying that after she
had finished breastfeeding her baby she would “dashed the brains out, had so sworn as you
Have done this.” Lady Macbeth showing that she is more courageous than Macbeth as she is
acting like the more dominate partner in their relationship because she would keep her
word. She is doing this because she wants to pressure Macbeth into continuing his initial
plans to Kill Duncan.
Further on in the scene Macbeth doubts having a successful outcome of committing the
murder. Lady Macbeth suddenly changes to a soft and reassuring tone and alters the plans
to eliminate her husband’s negative thoughts. It is shown when she says “we’ll not fail… his
day’s journey soundly invite him … his two chamberlains Will I with wine … when in swinish
sleep … what cannot upon Th’ unguarded Duncan” By using this tone Lady Macbeth is subtly
manipulating Macbeth into trusting her as she sounds very confident and reassuring.
