Lady Macbeth

This scene is set at Macbeth’s castle where Lady Macbeth reads a letter received from her husband concerning his meeting with the witches. Macbeth is now the Thane of Cawdor and she is instantly aware that Macbeth could become King. She thinks of killing Duncan, however she also thinks about Macbeth and how he is too kind to kill the king. Quotes- “Yet I do fear thy nature;/ It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” “To beguile the time, look like the time” Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it. ” “Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty! “

“That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;/ And chastise with the valour of my tongue / All that impedes thee from the golden round” “Your face, my thane, is as a book where men / May read strange matters” Techniques- “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it. – simile It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” – metaphor “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;/ And chastise with the valour of my tongue / All that impedes thee from the golden round” –Metaphor “That my keen knife see not the wound it makes” – personification Scene 7 Summary-Macbeth is thinking of everything that could go wrong with the plan. He wonders if it is all worth it and also thinks about the consequences. He then decides to back out of the plan but Lady Macbeth isn’t so happy.

She furiously asks Macbeth why he is so afraid to be the same in action as he is in desire. In addition, she declares him a sickly coward. She assures her husband that they will not fail in their mission. Lady Macbeth explains that they will poison King Duncan and his servants’ wine with sleeping pills and that Macbeth will murder Duncan in his sleep. In order to prove himself Duncan carries through with the plan. Quotes- Was the hope drunk? / Wherein you dress’d yourself? hath it slept since? When you durst do it, then you were a man;

I have given suck, and know/ How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me:/ I would, while it was smiling in my face, / Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, /And dash’d the brains out Techniques- Was the hope drunk? / Wherein you dress’d yourself? hath it slept since? –Rhetorical question, sarcasm I have given suck, and know/ How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me:/ I would, while it was smiling in my face, / Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, /And dash’d the brains out – Gruesome imagery Feminist perspective

What is feminism? Throughout history, women have always struggled to gain equality, respect, and the same rights as men. This has been difficult because of patriarchy, an ideology in which men are superior to women and have the right to rule women. Feminism is a philosophy in which women and their contributions are valued. It is based on social, political and economical equality for women. LM from feminist perspective From a feminist perspective, Lady Macbeth is not considered equal.

She is incapable of ruling Scotland as she is a woman, therefore she needs Macbeth to become king if she wants power. She cannot control factors in her own life. Lady Macbeth could not kill Duncan as women would never do such a thing in the Elizabethan times. Modern Women from a feminist perspective In today’s society women are generally treated as equals to men. We can do the same jobs and receive equal pay, are treated with respect and are able to look after ourselves. However, we are still portrayed as the weaker sex. The stereotype of fragile weak women and brave strong men still applies.