Lady M Act 1

Cards (15)

  • Key words throughout
    Temptress, femme fatale, tyrannical force, subverts feminity, rejection of feminity, gender nonconformity, androgynous.
  • The 4th witch?
    Lady Macbeth and the witches similarly shared this sense of malevolent supernatural powers. She calls upon "spirits" to unnaturally "unsex" her. Her reference of "spirits" is repeated when she says she will "pour" her "spirits" into Macbeth's ear. Thus, she is familiar and not hesitant to call upon the external to help free her from constrains of her feminity.
  • The 4th witch? 2
    Her androgynous nature would be perceived to be supernatural in the Jacobean era as the gender roles were rigid and any break in this would show she is possessed by a supernatural force. Both Lady Macbeth and the Witches personify the motif of appearance Vs reality in the play.
  • The 4th witch? 3
    Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to "Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it" The biblical allusion to the "serpent", seen in the downfall of mankind in genesis, where the serpent tempts Adam and Eve is used by lady Macbeth to highlight how effective deception can be when executed with an "innocent" facade.
    The witches similarly employ deception as they provide Macbeth self - fulfilling prophecies, knowing his hubris will create it into a tragic reality: "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!"
  • The 4th witch? 4
    Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth disregard of fragile human life, which can be seen in their interactions with Macbeth.
    Lady Macbeth mercilessly states she would remorselessly "dash the brains out" of her unborn child. Her rejection of motherhood is salient, however her violent and barbaric nature is revealed - she would be remorseless in extinguishing fragile and vulnerable human life.
  • The 4th witch? 4.5
    Both Lady Macbeth and the witches disregard of fragile human life, which can be seen in their interactions with Macbeth.
    The witches use "finger of a birth strangled babe" in their cauldron in act 4. They carelessly use the "strangled babe"s finger alongside other insignificant creatures, such as "frog", "snake", and "dog". They are amoral, and feel an absence of guilt in their destruction of innocent life.
  • Want to remove femininity
    Lady Macbeth has rich significance in terms of her literary context, she subverts the audience expectations of a woman as weak and passive. Instead, she is arguably a driving force, which prompts Macbeth's tragic downfall.
  • Wants to remove femininity 2

    She plans to "pour my spirits in thine ear", which depicts her manipulative and evil qualities. The noun "pour" builds a connection to her emasculating threat that he is "too full of the milk of human kindness", suggesting she will replace the milk with evil. The noun "milk" is a symbol for femininity and maternal nurturing, Lady M rejects these. She is almost like a fourth witch in her manipulation, as the noun "spirits" is reminiscent of the supernatural.
  • Wants to remove femininity 3
    This is reinforced by her imperative language: "unsex me here", "come you spirits", and "come, thick night". It seems she is almost casting a spell, as the nouns "spirits" and "night" allude to a dark supernatural force. She yearns to be rid of her feminity to encompass the inhumane and witch like role that would grant her power.
    She is aware that her femininity constrains her and means she has this "passage to remorse". Her want to stop the "access" to remorse, not necessarily a maternal emotion, highlights how she sees emotions synonymous with weakness.
  • Wants to remove femininity 4
    The 'fall of man' is a central idea of a tragedy, for a religious Jacobean audience this would be reflective of the archetype, the story of Adam and Eve.
    Eve was tempted by Satan in the form of a serpent to eat the forbidden fruit (much like Lady Macbeth being tempted by the witches' allusion to Kingship).
    Eve ate the fruit and convinced Adam to do the same, resulting in their downfall of them both, they were banished from the Garden of Eden. It could be argued that Lady Macbeth, much like Eve, set the foundation for her husband's evil.
  • Emasculation of Macbeth
    Her use of a rhetorical question is calculated, she gives him time to ponder and think about his actions - it is clear she wants o exploit his emotion of embarrassment or shame.
    She uses the epithet "coward" which threatens his entire sense of being as a soldier not only is she questioning his masculinity, but also his livelihood.
    She blackmails him and makes an example of herself to quantify his weakness.
  • Emasculation of Macbeth 2
    She claims she would have "dashed the brains out" of her own child if she had sworn to like Macbeth had sworn to commit the murder.
    The merciless act of rejecting maternal inclinations characterises Lady Macbeth as violent and determined, she effectively competes with Macbeth who as a man of that era, could not be weaker than a woman.
  • Emasculation of Macbeth 3
    Femme Fatale (a seductive and manipulative woman who can lure men into danger or sin - it is a common trope within literature and poetry). She is thus a femme fatale as she not only is manipulative, but rejects her womanhood and motherhood - a typical trope of a femme fatale.
    Lady Macbeth mobilises the plot of regicide through her manipulation and emasculation of Macbeth.
  • Emasculation of Macbeth 4
    Initially, she belittles him, saying his "face" is " book where men may read strange matters". She mocks the candidness of his expression.
    This introduces her manipulation, as it portrays Macbeth as weak and vulnerable - these were qualities which fail to align with the ideal masculine archetype of the era.
  • Emasculation of Macbeth 5
    She indirectly questions his ability to fulfill his role, and it would be almost embarrassing and atypical for him to have to be instructed by a woman.
    Later, her emasculation becomes more explicit. She interrogates him with a rhetorical question: "Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself?" To ridicule and question his state of mind.