Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

1. Quotes

   • " unsex me here " "top-full of direst cruelty !"
     • wants evil spirits to remove any womanly feeling from within her - to commit regicide and feel strong about it ( like a man ) again showing the roles of woman in the time - to stay at home and clean etc
     • direst cruelty - wants any feeling she has towards anyone to be filled with wickedness and doesn't want to feel sympathy towards them - to commit regicide.
   • " give me the daggers "
     • she is decisive and domineering - ordering Macbeth
     • the way she acts completely contrast how macbeth is acting after killing Duncan
   • " too full o' the milk of human kindness "
     • thinks her husband is ' too kind ' or not ruthless enough
       • shows that she is the dominant one in the relationship - unusual for a Jacobean relationship .
         • thinks he will need reassurance and a guide to kill duncan.
   • " a foolish thought to say a sorry sight "
     • Macbeth hands are a "sorry sight" as they are covered with blood from king duncan - just killed him
       • Lady Macbeth finds it foolish to become emotional over a manly deed of courage ( murdering someone) - reversing gender roles.
   • " all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand "
     • hyperbole - emphasises that not even all the perfumes in arabia - lots of perfume - will take away the smell of blood from Lady macbeths hands.
       • shows Lady macbeths guilt and the contrast of how she acted in the start of the play and now at the end.
       • highllights how big of a crime regicide was in this time

2. Character

   • Macbeth's Wife - she is seen as strong , ambitious and ruthless
     • She however , cannot have children !
   • She is seen to also go against gender roles in the Jacobean time - she is the dominant one in the relationship even though she is a woman.
   • The main thing she is seen to do in the play is that she persuades her husband to commit regicide and after becomes queen of Scotland

3. Events / Actions

   • in the beginning , she recieves a letter from her husband about wanting to kill the king - then helps Macbeth plan to and does kill Duncan - then scolds Macbeth after they kill duncan for being weak - starts to feel as if she can't wash the blood off her hands - eventually she kills herself after building up too much guilt.