lady macbeth

• " come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here"


  frustrated of her femininity desperate to be man

  uses her husband for power cause she doesnt have any

  impereitive sentence- commanding, demanding figure- goes against typical jacobean women

  themes: ambition and supernatural

  develops ambition before macbeth and becomes close to dark spirits

  conext: jacobean audience called her fourth witch
• "Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it"


  mistress of deception- uses femininity to create sympathy ad mislead

  juxtaposition- flower= fragile, serpent= hidden threat.

  theme: reality and appearances

  cannot believe everything that you see

  conext: violating divine right if kings as she influences macbeth to violate them
• "when durst do it, then you were a man"


  manipulates Macbeth by questioning his masculinity

  alliteration- how forced and powerful she is and controls the relationship

  theme: ambition

  sees ambition as a sign of power and strength- will do anything for it

  context: went against ideas of femininity and questions her husband -clear power imbalance
• "the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures"


  mocks macbeth once he kills duncan

  role reversal again

  metaphor- lack of humanity

  theme: ambition

  robbed of humanity cause she is so ambitious

  context: king james I book 'daemonolgue' identified women like lady macbeth as witches
• "Out dammed spot! out i say!"


  goes from evil to pennetant and guilt begins to build up starts having hallucinations of blood

  repitition- frantic she is- overwhelmed by guilt

  themes: supernatural and guilt

  now a ruined women- guilt has ruined her

  context: her insanity is gods punishment