How power is used in Macbeth and lady M
How power is used in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship?
Introduction
During the time Macbeth was written, British society was patriarchal meaning that men had the most power compared to women. However in ‘Macbeth’, Lady Macbeth goes against stereotypical gender roles, which means she has the most power over Macbeth.
Act 1 scene 5
What happens in this scene? Lady Macbeth reads Macbeths letter, he wrote that about what the witches told him and that the thane of Cawdor bit has already happened. She decides Macbeth will be king, she thinks he should do whatever it takes to achieve it. She reckons Macbeth might be a bit too weak though- that she will have to persuade them. A messenger says Duncan is coming, Lady Macbeth thinks this is their chance to kill him. She gives a little speech asking the “sprits” to make her evil and asking the dark of the night to hide the murder she’s planning. Macbeth comes in; she tells him that he has to pretend to be nice, but be nasty underneath. Lady Macbeth says she’ll work out what to do tonight. She doesn’t say they’ll kill Duncan, but you can tell that’s what she means.
My point:
Lady Macbeth suggests through her language that her husband is naturally too weak to carry out evil deeds in order to fulfil the witches’ prophecy.
Lady Macbeth calls on evil spirits to fill her and make her able to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan
Lady Macbeth is commanding without fear to the evil spirits to come and take away what makes her a woman.
Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to walk back in the room with grace and pretend that nothing in happening.
Evidence:
“yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness
‘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.’
‘Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall.
‘look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it’
Analysis:
The word milk is strongly associated with women as they produce
Introduction
During the time Macbeth was written, British society was patriarchal meaning that men had the most power compared to women. However in ‘Macbeth’, Lady Macbeth goes against stereotypical gender roles, which means she has the most power over Macbeth.
Act 1 scene 5
What happens in this scene? Lady Macbeth reads Macbeths letter, he wrote that about what the witches told him and that the thane of Cawdor bit has already happened. She decides Macbeth will be king, she thinks he should do whatever it takes to achieve it. She reckons Macbeth might be a bit too weak though- that she will have to persuade them. A messenger says Duncan is coming, Lady Macbeth thinks this is their chance to kill him. She gives a little speech asking the “sprits” to make her evil and asking the dark of the night to hide the murder she’s planning. Macbeth comes in; she tells him that he has to pretend to be nice, but be nasty underneath. Lady Macbeth says she’ll work out what to do tonight. She doesn’t say they’ll kill Duncan, but you can tell that’s what she means.
My point:
Lady Macbeth suggests through her language that her husband is naturally too weak to carry out evil deeds in order to fulfil the witches’ prophecy.
Lady Macbeth calls on evil spirits to fill her and make her able to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan
Lady Macbeth is commanding without fear to the evil spirits to come and take away what makes her a woman.
Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to walk back in the room with grace and pretend that nothing in happening.
Evidence:
“yet do I fear thy nature; it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness
‘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.’
‘Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall.
‘look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it’
Analysis:
The word milk is strongly associated with women as they produce