Preview

Act 1 Scene 5 Mcbeth

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
324 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Act 1 Scene 5 Mcbeth
How does Shakespeare portray Lady Macbeth’s state of mind in her first speech (“The raven was hoarse…”) and how does the speech relate to the plays concerns with ambition?

Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy (Act I scene 5 lines 37-52) provides a vivid insight into her twisted state of mind as she creates initial plans to murder Duncan in order to fulfill the prophecy the witches made and have Macbeth become the King.

The first lines of the speech reveal her first dark thoughts on killing Duncan. “The raven himself is hoarse/ That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan/ Under my battlements.” Carries the symbol of the

How does Shakespeare portray Lady Macbeth’s state of mind in her first speech (“The raven was hoarse…”) and how does the speech relate to the plays concerns with ambition?

Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy (Act I scene 5 lines 37-52) provides a vivid insight into her twisted state of mind as she creates initial plans to murder Duncan in order to fulfill the prophecy the witches made and have Macbeth become the King.

The first lines of the speech reveal her first dark thoughts on killing Duncan. “The raven himself is hoarse/ That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan/ Under my battlements.” Carries the symbol of the

How does Shakespeare portray Lady Macbeth’s state of mind in her first speech (“The raven was hoarse…”) and how does the speech relate to the plays concerns with ambition?

Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy (Act I scene 5 lines 37-52) provides a vivid insight into her twisted state of mind as she creates initial plans to murder Duncan in order to fulfill the prophecy the witches made and have Macbeth become the King.

The first lines of the speech reveal her first dark thoughts on killing Duncan. “The raven himself is hoarse/ That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan/ Under my battlements.” Carries the symbol of

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The fact that the raven’s cry is ‘hoarse’ shows that it has croaked so much that its voice is gone, could signify Lady Macbeth’s deep need to have power fading away as she gets more and more disturbed due to overwhelming experiences which leave her as a shadow of who she once was.…

    • 800 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth vs. a Simple Plan

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Both Lady Macbeth and Sarah formulate plans to obtain their objectives before their husbands can think far enough ahead. The instant Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth’s letter, stating that he met witches who predicted he would be king, she immediately decides that the king will be killed: “The Raven himself is hoarse / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan / Under my battlements” (Macbeth 1.5.38-40). As Macbeth earlier asks the stars to hide his desire, she openly asks the spirits to strengthen her desire by filling her with manly cruelty:…

    • 1273 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s, relationship is affected by an act of murder placed upon Macbeth by his wife. Lady Macbeth after this scene shows a very controlling and unappreciative attitude for what Macbeth has done for her, kill King Duncan. She demonstrates in a metaphorical scene described by the Old Man, “A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,/Was by a mousing owl hawked and killed” (II. 4. 11-13). This quote is like Lady Macbeth’s unappreciative attitude for Macbeth’s deed for her. She is like the owl that is usual hidden away behind Macbeth, with Macbeth, the falcon who is usually the predator; she attacks him with the responsibility of killing Duncan. By controlling Macbeth, and making him go through with the murder she shows no sign of thankfulness. She tells him to “Go get some water,/And wash [the] filthy witness from [his] hands” after she has scarred him for life (II.…

    • 343 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    She immediately thinks that she and Macbeth will have to kill Duncan as she says "thou…shalt be / What thou art promised" (1,5,14-15). She also decides that Macbeth is too good natured to kill the king, saying "it is too full o' the milk of human kindness" (1,5,16). After Lady Macbeth plots the murder of Duncan she learns that he will be making an appearance at the Macbeth house. She seems quite pleased with this new information as she says, "He brings great news. The raven himself is hoarse / That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan" (1,5,37-38). Her ambition to have more power by being Queen is so great that she will do anything to get what she wants. However, once Lady Macbeth becomes Queen she also becomes very unhappy. She gets what she wants and still wants…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How Is Lady Macbeth Evil

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Lady Macbeth is greedy and ambitious. When Macbeth is considering not to go through with Duncan's murder Lady Macbeth says, “...Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire?” (1.7.42-44). Lady Macbeth is making Macbeth feel guilty and like a coward, because he is considering not to go through with the murder. She is going make Macbeth kill the king, because she…

    • 461 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the first two acts of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth shows herself to be a formidable woman with aspirations and a plan. She is clear about her desire to become Queen of Scotland and by way of her internal conversation, she plans her manipulation. By knowingly manipulating Macbeth and applying consistent pressure, Lady Macbeth executes her plan. She encourages Macbeth to see killing King Duncan as the only logical next step to fulfill the prophecy. Lady Macbeth’s intent, blatant disregard for life, and emotional manipulation of her husband make her morally responsible for the murder of King…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth and Macduff

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages

    First, Shakespeare portrays an ominous image in Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy, “The raven himself is hoarse.”(1:5:37-38). She talks of the future death of the king. The Raven being the messenger who announces death. The cacophonous word “hoarse” portrays the raven’s speech and harsh tone of voice.…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lady Macbeth Corrupt

    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The play begins with Lady Macbeth being an ambitious wife. Lady Macbeth first enters the play in scene five reading Macbeth’s letter and saying “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be What thou art promised." (i.v.13). Soon after, Lady Macbeth’s first plan is murder. This shows that she is ambitious because she determined to be the queen, even if it means doing something extraordinaire. Lady Macbeth later states “Yet do I fear thy nature,It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way.”(i.v.15) . This further proves her…

    • 584 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's soliloquy at the start of Act 1, Scene 7, introduces us to a side of Macbeth that has not yet been portrayed earlier in the play. Here, instead of being the courageous and valiant soldier, Macbeth reveals himself to be a man who is being slowly tempted by ambition and power, though not determined enough to take the risks in order to achieve his goal, thus resulting in the repetition of "ifs" throughout the beginning of Macbeth's soliloquy. Macbeth is also very much aware of the lack of reason for the murder of Duncan. The soliloquy effectively adds to our understanding of the internal conflict that plagues Macbeth as he struggles to determine whether or not he should kill Duncan, who is a virtuous man as well as his kinsman and king. He believes that it is against the nature of man to kill someone who is of such a status and relation to him and that it is immoral to do so, "he's here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed" and that it would be a breech of Duncan's trust in him if he decides to go through with the murder. We see Macbeth's reluctance to murder Duncan himself as he is a guest in his own home. "…as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself." Macbeth knows that his weakness is the desire he has to seize the crown. He knows that although he does not wish to murder Duncan but for the fulfillment of his own ambition, "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition…" it is something that must happen in order for Macbeth to achieve what he wants. The audience sees the conflict within Macbeth and the horrible imaginings he has for his own downfall and his fate. He knows that he is drinking from a "poisoned chalice" which symbolizes Macbeth's yearning for moral desecration. Another aspect of Macbeth that the audience witness is the reluctance to mention the murder of Duncan. Instead, he uses euphemisms such as " it, assassination,…

    • 600 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Role Of Greed In Macbeth

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To begin with, Lady Macbeth urges her husband to kill king Duncan so she can share power with Macbeth. Lady Macbeth says, “Thou’d’st have, great Glamis, / That which cries “Thus thou must do,” if thou have it, / And that which rather thou dost fear…

    • 675 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This scene is mainly about Macbeth giving his soliloquy where he shows his dilemma on whether he should kill Duncan or not. His wife Lady Macbeth accuses Macbeth of being a coward and that she herself would want to kill Duncan or at least pass on her evil ideas to Macbeth. Macbeth feels very emotional about killing Duncan as he feels that they are kinsmen and that Duncan has high regard for Macbeth. He is also doubtful that they might be caught in the process and that they will be in a worse off situation. Lady Macbeth brainwashes him and at last gets him to listen to her.…

    • 537 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Macbeth’s main theme is the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. Macbeth is a courageous Scottish commander who is naturally murderous as his job requires in a patriotic way; however, this patriotic murderous side of him gradually transforms into a mad, disturbed, murderous man who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet deeply desires power and advancement. Killing Duncan against his better judgement leaves Macbeth to become paranoid and stew in his guilt. Toward the end of the play, he descends into a frantic, boastful madness that eventually leads to his death. We understand this change in mentality through his important use of soliloquy allowing the audience to hear the inner thoughts of the character. Lengthy soliloquies, offstage deaths, and poetic speeches are not meant to capture reality but to reinterpret it in order to…

    • 2656 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The introduction of the play starts with the prophecies of the three weird sisters, who have a mysterious foreshadowing of the future for Macbeth. The beginning excitement or intrusion starts with the initial soliloquy that follows the prophecies of the witches. Right before this speech Macbeth has returned from a battle, very proud of his courageousness and superiority. King Duncan praises him for his bravery and the victory. Soon after he and Banquo are approached by three witches who prophesy him to be thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland. Macbeth then starts to think about how he would assume this position, but he almost ends up going to war with himself. The thought of killing King Duncan to become king gives him an assurance of success, but he says, “Why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature?” Here he explains that inside he feels nervous and is scared of the horrible image this will give him. Macbeth knows that killing Duncan is going against his nature, but he begins to develop great ambition for these vivid pictures of success that he sees. The imagery he uses about his restless heart…

    • 1502 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    When Duncan is killed, she says that she will smear the servants with the king’s blood so that they will look responsible. This displays Lady Macbeth’s determination to carry out what she puts her mind to.…

    • 581 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lady Macbeth feels she will gain greater power by going against her womanly nature and by turning into a male figure while plotting the murder of King Duncan. After hearing the news that Macbeth is made out to be the new king, she instantly calls upon the murderous spirits saying, “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood” (1,5,30-33). Lady…

    • 319 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays