Macbeth Act 1 Sc 5

Lady Macbeth reads letter from Macbeth

Why did Macbeth write the letter?

• So that Lady Macbeth would be able to enjoy the good news as soon as possible

Lady Macbeth is worried that her husband because he is: ”too full o’ th’ milk of human

kindness”. What does she mean?

• He is too full of compassion and decency

What does she mean when she talks of “The nearest way”?

• The quickest way - To murder the king.

• Don’t wait - act immediately

She knows her husband is ambitious but fears he lacks the necessary “illness”. What is that?

• evil

Why does she long for him to come home quickly?

(2 reasons)

• “I may pour my spirits in thine ears”

she can whisper her ideas to him

• “chastise with the valour of my tongue / all that impedes thee”

She can persuade him to do what he’s too frightened to do

Colloquially = whip him into shape with her tongue

What news surprises her?

• The king is coming to spend the night at their castle

What words suggest she is planning to kill King Duncan?

• “the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements”

• Fatal … deadly

What 5 things does she pray the evil spirits will do?

• Unsex her – take away all her feminine qualities

• Fill her from top to toe with “direst cruelties” ( Worst types of cruelty)

• “thicken” her blood so the she becomes hard and insensitive

• Prevent her from having or showing any compassion and decency

• Take the milk from her breasts and replace it with poison – replace any motherly, tender instincts with evil