lady macbeth 3

• Keywords:

  • Weaker, submissive, losing her tyranny, quelling his evil
• The power dynamic between the Macbeths begins shifting in this act, Macbeth begins echoing the former sentiments of Lady Macbeth, suggesting he has extrapolated her evil.

  • Key message: the natural order always prevails. (The Great Chain of Being)
• Lady Macbeth discourages Macbeth from murdering Banquo saying "You must leave this", yet Macbeth is trapped within the momentum of evil and dismisses her "be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck".

  • Macbeth now overpowers Lady Macbeth through feminine epithets (insults) which belittle her - much as she previously did to him.
• In response to hearing Macbeth's bloodthirsty plans, she claims, "You lack the season of all natures, sleep".

  • She is now trying to be moderate and quell his evil.
  • She is comparatively passive and is preoccupied with the noun "sleep" (a motif for peace and innocence).
• It appears Lady Macbeth is yearning to reverse the murderous chaos as she realises her role as queen is not what she expected.