Is an Incredibly Important part of Shakespearean Infamous play Macbeth, and begins to establish the main themes of ambition, violence and the supernatural. Firstly, it introduces the strong willed and influential character of Lady Macbeth, and it also establishes the close and interesting relationship between Macbeth and his wife. Super natural forces are re-introduced and the association of masculinity and violence is evident.
Furthermore, Shakespeare reveals a private and surprisingly softer side to Macbeth, which contrasts with the courageous, lottery’s and fierce character the audience were originally shown. The scene opens with Lady Macbeth reading out a letter from Macbeth informing her on the witches prophecies. Immediately, it is suggested that Macbeth and his wife have an intimate and trustworthy relationship. Even though Macbeth asked Banquet to tell no one of their meeting with the witches, showing Macbeth Is dubious and secretive, he still writes to lady Macbeth, thus showing their open relationship .
Macbeth addresses Lady Macbeth as “… My dearest partner of greatness… ” And “… My rarest love… “. The use of the possessive “my” emphasizes Macbeth adoration and devotion to his wife. In addition, “partner implies equality and fellowship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and is also ironic as she will later become his partner in crime. Lady Macbeth simultaneously addresses Macbeth with affection, for example ” Great Glass! Worthy Castor! “. The complimentary adjectives “great” and “worthy” show her anticipation that he will be King.
Although Lady Macbeth Is clearly overjoyed to here about the prophecies, she Is Immediately deterred by the impractical humanitarian and tender side of her husband Macbeth, which could lead to their failure- “. Yet I do fear thy nature: it is too full 10th’ milk of human kindness… “. Lady Macbeth predication of Macbeth guilty conscience shows her familiarity and closeness with her husband. When Macbeth is reunited with Lady Macbeth, he tells her “King Duncan is coming here tonight”. Although he tells her as If she is unaware, we know that he knows she Is, as he sent the messenger to forewarn her.
This Is an indirect way of asking Lady Macbeth for her opinion on the matter, showing his penitence and sureness in his wife, and that her opinions and advice are valuable to him. It could also show his uncertainty and discomfort with the situation, which contrasts with Lady Macbeth clear and undeterred mission. Lady Macbeth Is introduced as a powerful and ambitious character. Her violent, blistering soliloquies In Act 1, scenes 5 testify to her strength of will, which completely eclipses that of her husband.
She is well aware of the discrepancy between their respective resolves and understands that she will have to manipulate re husband into acting on the witches’ prophecy- “That I may pour my spirits in thing ear [And chastise with the velour of my tongue… “. Her powers of persuasion and manipulation compel Macbeth to kill Duncan, even against his will, which could actions, and without her, it is suggested that Macbeth would not have been able to carry out the murder. Her soliloquy in Act 1, scene 5, begins the plays exploration of gender roles, particularly of the value and nature of masculinity.
In the soliloquy, she spurns her feminine characteristics, crying out “unsexes me here” and wishing that the ilk in her breasts would be exchanged for “gall” (bitterness) so that she could murder Duncan herself. These remarks manifest Lady Machete’s belief that manhood is defined by murder. Lady Macbeth is clearly the dominant figure in the relationship, for example “Leave all the rest to me… “- this imperative shows that Lady Macbeth makes the plans and decisions, and although Macbeth does have to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth sees her self as the most responsible and suitable character for the major part of the Job.
More evidence for Lady Machete’s dominance may come from her instant questioning of Machete’s manhood. ” Yet I do fear thy nature… “. Although the other characters in the play see Macbeth as a fearless, courageous and brutal soldier, which make him seem the ideal representation of masculinity, Lady Macbeth can sees beyond that, and recognizes his tender side, with a touch of femininity. Guilt, honesty and scruples are associated with women -“unsexes me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe of direst cruelty… “- which is ironic as Lady Macbeth has no conscience, where as Macbeth does, thus reversing the stereotypical ender roles.
Although Macbeth is represented as the dominant character, for example during act 1 scene 2 he is described as “unsealed him from nave to thatch’s… ” And “but alls too weak for brave Macbeth… “, Lady Macbeth is the only character who challenges and teases Macbeth authority, showing she does not fear him, and considers him her equal, which is odd as stereotypically during Shakespearean day and that of the setting of Macbeth, women were regarded as inferior to men. Lady Macbeth uses several significant metaphors of concealment: Machete’s face is like “a book, where men / May read strange matters”.
The book is used as a metaphor- Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to not show the darkness, but hide it by deceiving people of what they see. Others see an illusion of Macbeth, not the reality which is also shown through imagery. This can be seen as she doesn’t want him to be the ” innocent flower” but the “serpent undercut”, which is an ironic reference to the Genesis story. The apparent paradise promised by the Witches is soon to become a hell. This theme helps us understand one of the most important ideas of the play “things are not as they seem”.
This foreshadows the events in the next scene where Lady Macbeth greets Duncan kindly but hides that he will be killed under her roof. This theme allows the reader to identify the mistakes that people are constantly making throughout the play by not In this scene we are re-introduced to this notion that the supernatural is key in the advancement of the play. Lady Macbeth summons the evil spirits- “come you evil spirits… unsexes me here… “- she acts like a conjuring witch, reaching out to the forces of darkness to aid her in this task.
As the audience that the play was originally written for would believe in evil spirits and the supernatural, and it was considered sinful, this act vividly reveals to the audience Lady Macbeth dark, destructive, and true nature, and paints as her as possible villain, along with the witches. Another example where Lady Macbeth is comparable to the witches is when she greets greet Macbeth, ” all hail… “, and thus suggests a correlation between the witches and Lady Macbeth, which could foreshadow that both cause Macbeth downfall and are therefore both villains.
Finally, Lady Macbeth displays the idea of appearance vs. reality. Lady Macbeth scorns her husbands honor and loyalty as bad qualities, as she knows it will not make him King. This is a similar message to that of the witches ambiguity “fair is foul and foul is fair” which suggests that in order to achieve ones motives, one has to be immoral. Again, the parallel of Lady Macbeth and the Witches messages makes them conventional and similar, thus implying to the audience that Lady Macbeth advice is untrustworthy and misguided, and therefore foreshadowing their deterioration.
