In Act 1 of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, asks spirits to “unsex” her ‑ to take away the “weaknesses” associated with being female. She wishes she were a man so she didn’t feel so much guilt.
"Look like th' innocent flower but be the serpent under 't"
Lady Macbeth is extremely ambitious and power-hungry, which are both traits more commonly associated with men in Shakespeare's plays. Lady Macbeth is also ruthless and willful; she emasculates her husband for being weak when he expresses concern about killing the king.
”Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”
In this simile, Lady Macbeth exhorts her husband to conceal his murderous intentions with innocent behavior, similar to a snake lurking beneath a harmless flower.
“Out damned spot!” - blood motif is symbol of guilt
Ironic as she previously emasculated Macbeth and told him “A little water clears us of this deed”. She ends up killing king Duncan due to the guilt.
“Are you a man or a mouse?”
Lady Macbeth emasculates Macbeth when he doesn’t want to kill King Duncan.
