Trace the stages by which Lady Macbeth Trace the stages by which Lady Macbeth becomes less dominant as the play progresses, becomes less dominant as the play progresses, making clear your changing feelings towards making clear your changing feelings towards

her.her.

( Write this title down now )( Write this title down now )

You will be guided through this essay. The You will be guided through this essay. The Acts and Scenes you should refer to will be Acts and Scenes you should refer to will be

pointed out, some key speeches will even be pointed out, some key speeches will even be identified…identified…

BUTBUT You must avoid long quotationsYou must avoid long quotations You must quote regularly in support of your You must quote regularly in support of your

points ( don’t forget to make a point! )points ( don’t forget to make a point! ) Regularly Regularly explain exactly whyexplain exactly why

Shakespeare’s use of language is brilliant Shakespeare’s use of language is brilliant ( i.e. don’t just say it is! )( i.e. don’t just say it is! )

You must focus on individual words and You must focus on individual words and phrases, especially imageryphrases, especially imagery

Illustrate the power of Macbeth to Illustrate the power of Macbeth to suggest the greater power, initially, of suggest the greater power, initially, of

Lady Macbeth.Lady Macbeth.

Quotes to show Macbeth’s power can be Quotes to show Macbeth’s power can be found in Act 1 Scenes 2, 3 and 4found in Act 1 Scenes 2, 3 and 4

You’ll need, perhaps, three quotesYou’ll need, perhaps, three quotes Comment that the person who can Comment that the person who can

dominate this man must be very powerful dominate this man must be very powerful indeedindeed

Show how Shakespeare quickly reveals Show how Shakespeare quickly reveals her ambitious and determined nature.her ambitious and determined nature.

Focus on her ‘Glamis thou art…’ speech in Focus on her ‘Glamis thou art…’ speech in Act 1 Scene 5Act 1 Scene 5

Her ambition for her husband is clear – Her ambition for her husband is clear – note that if he is king then she will be note that if he is king then she will be queen queen

The evil nature of her determination is The evil nature of her determination is hinted at in her criticisms of Macbethhinted at in her criticisms of Macbeth

Don’t forget to comment on the language Don’t forget to comment on the language she uses, especially the imageryshe uses, especially the imagery

Show how the evil nature of her Show how the evil nature of her determination is developed.determination is developed.

She is prepared to invoke evil spirits – She is prepared to invoke evil spirits – ‘Come, you spirits….’ Act 1 Scene 5‘Come, you spirits….’ Act 1 Scene 5

Again, focus on the language she usesAgain, focus on the language she uses Break up the speech into small quotesBreak up the speech into small quotes When Macbeth arrives, look closely at her When Macbeth arrives, look closely at her

language - link with language of witches, language - link with language of witches, plus more signs of evil determinationplus more signs of evil determination

Macbeth decides against murdering Macbeth decides against murdering Duncan.Duncan.

Act 1 Scene 7. Lady Macbeth insults and Act 1 Scene 7. Lady Macbeth insults and cajoles Macbeth into the murder – her cajoles Macbeth into the murder – her dominance is confirmed – ‘Was the hope dominance is confirmed – ‘Was the hope drunk…’ n.b. clothing imagerydrunk…’ n.b. clothing imagery

Powerful image of suckling babe reveals Powerful image of suckling babe reveals so much of her evil determination and, at so much of her evil determination and, at this point, her cold-hearted unfemininity this point, her cold-hearted unfemininity

PossiblyPossibly contrast her presentation here contrast her presentation here with the later presentation of the noble with the later presentation of the noble Lady MacduffLady Macduff

Now would be a good time to comment Now would be a good time to comment on your feelings, possibly a mixture of on your feelings, possibly a mixture of angeranger and and admirationadmiration, towards the , towards the

character of the Lady Macbeth you have character of the Lady Macbeth you have seen seen so farso far..

Note, however, that Lady Macbeth’s Note, however, that Lady Macbeth’s conversion to evil is not total.conversion to evil is not total.

Act 2 Scene 2 – she needs a drink to give Act 2 Scene 2 – she needs a drink to give her the courage to put her plan into actionher the courage to put her plan into action

The owl’s shriek scares her ( owl symbol of The owl’s shriek scares her ( owl symbol of evil )evil )

She has the opportunity to murder Duncan She has the opportunity to murder Duncan but her sensitivity won’t allow her to – but her sensitivity won’t allow her to – ‘Had he not resembled my father…’‘Had he not resembled my father…’

Are you Are you criticalcritical of her here or do you of her here or do you pitypity her?her?

Compared to her husband, Lady Macbeth Compared to her husband, Lady Macbeth has not thought through the consequences has not thought through the consequences

of their actions.of their actions. One effect of this is to make her later One effect of this is to make her later

realisation more devastating and, therefore, realisation more devastating and, therefore, more dramaticmore dramatic

Comment on the irony of these lines from Act 2 Comment on the irony of these lines from Act 2 Scene 2– ‘These deeds must not be thought Scene 2– ‘These deeds must not be thought

After these ways; so it will make us After these ways; so it will make us

mad’ mad’ Is this ignorance or naivety? Do you feel Is this ignorance or naivety? Do you feel pitypity

or or contemptcontempt? ?

Further evidence in Act 2 Scene 2 of how Further evidence in Act 2 Scene 2 of how Lady Macbeth’s ambition has affected her Lady Macbeth’s ambition has affected her

judgement.judgement. Look at ‘A little water clears us of this Look at ‘A little water clears us of this

deed; deed;

How easy is it then!How easy is it then! Do you feel Do you feel pitypity? Because of the ? Because of the

consequencesconsequences ContemptContempt? For her naivety? For her naivety AdmirationAdmiration? For her apparent clear ? For her apparent clear

thinking compared to Macbeth’s paralysisthinking compared to Macbeth’s paralysis

Look at the fainting incident - Act 2 Look at the fainting incident - Act 2 Scene 3Scene 3

Is this shrewd? Why would Lady Macbeth Is this shrewd? Why would Lady Macbeth want to deflect attention away from want to deflect attention away from Macbeth at this point?Macbeth at this point?

Or is it genuine, a sign that she is not Or is it genuine, a sign that she is not inhuman?inhuman?

Macbeth decides to kill Banquo and Macbeth decides to kill Banquo and Fleance.Fleance.

Again examine Lady Macbeth’s naivety in Again examine Lady Macbeth’s naivety in thinking that the murder of Duncan will thinking that the murder of Duncan will bring about their desiresbring about their desires

In Act 2 Scene 3, focus on the anguish of In Act 2 Scene 3, focus on the anguish of her ‘Naught’s had, all’s spent…’ speech her ‘Naught’s had, all’s spent…’ speech ( you will need to quote all of it )( you will need to quote all of it )

Comment on the importance she now Comment on the importance she now attaches to contentment in lifeattaches to contentment in life

She is definitely weakening – Macbeth She is definitely weakening – Macbeth feels the need to protect herfeels the need to protect her

The banquet scene – Act 3 Scene 4.The banquet scene – Act 3 Scene 4.

Note the temporary resurgence of Lady Note the temporary resurgence of Lady Macbeth. Initially, some of her qualities return Macbeth. Initially, some of her qualities return and she regains some measure of controland she regains some measure of control

Would you say that her actions reflect her love Would you say that her actions reflect her love for her husband rather than fear for herself?for her husband rather than fear for herself?

AdmirationAdmiration? Considering her own mental ? Considering her own mental statestate

However, seeing her husband so distraught,However, seeing her husband so distraught, she uses up all her energy and loses her will. she uses up all her energy and loses her will. PityPity??

Lady Macbeth does not reappear until Lady Macbeth does not reappear until Act 5.Act 5.

Comment on Shakespeare’s skill as a Comment on Shakespeare’s skill as a playwright – he fades Lady Macbeth into playwright – he fades Lady Macbeth into the background so that when she the background so that when she reappears her deterioration appears more reappears her deterioration appears more dramaticdramatic

Act 5 Scene 1 – the sleepwalking Act 5 Scene 1 – the sleepwalking scene.scene.

You will need to quote extensively from You will need to quote extensively from Lady Macbeth’s final sceneLady Macbeth’s final scene

ButBut remember to keep your quotes remember to keep your quotes shortshort and and focussedfocussed

Go to next slide Go to next slide

Act 5 Scene 1 continuedAct 5 Scene 1 continued

Identify, at least in your own mind, which Identify, at least in your own mind, which previous events she is referring to previous events she is referring to

There’s a lot of There’s a lot of ironyirony in this scene – n.b. the in this scene – n.b. the ‘blood cleaning’‘blood cleaning’

Note how Lady Macbeth’s language alternates Note how Lady Macbeth’s language alternates between bitterness and sweetness, which between bitterness and sweetness, which indicates:-indicates:-

How distracted she isHow distracted she is The fact that she remains human and feminineThe fact that she remains human and feminine That she is child-like and vulnerableThat she is child-like and vulnerable What is your overwhelming feeling here – What is your overwhelming feeling here – pitypity??

Act 5 Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth dies but Act 5 Scene 5 - Lady Macbeth dies but her influence continues.her influence continues.

She leaves Macbeth alone and totally She leaves Macbeth alone and totally isolatedisolated

Focus on the imagery of despair in his ‘She Focus on the imagery of despair in his ‘She should have died hereafter’ speechshould have died hereafter’ speech

The conclusion of the play and of your The conclusion of the play and of your essay!essay!

Based on what you know, would you agree Based on what you know, would you agree with Malcolm’s assessment, in the final with Malcolm’s assessment, in the final scene, of Lady Macbeth as a ‘fiend-like scene, of Lady Macbeth as a ‘fiend-like queen’ ? – n.b. do not write ‘fqueen’ ? – n.b. do not write ‘frriend-like’ by iend-like’ by mistake!mistake!