Lady Macbeth's Soliloquy
Although Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy from Act 1, Scene 5 depicts the celebration of Macbeth’s encounter with the witches, it creates a significant turning point in which William Shakespeare imposes the beginning of the character’s transformation-essential to Macbeth’s central theme of the detriment of power. The beginning of Lady Macbeth’s transformation is shown when she exclaims “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be/ What thou art promised” (1.5.15-16). Certifying the prophecy, Lady Macbeth reiterates that her husband is the Thane of Glamis and Cawdor and is destined to become King. At this moment, Lady Macbeth commits to her husband becoming King at all cost. She now desires to be the future Queen above all else. However, Lady Macbeth
worries that Macbeth does not have what it takes to murder King Duncan, so he himself can become King. She “fears [that his] nature is too full o’th’milk of human kindness” (1.5.16-17). Agitated by his apparent weaknesses, Lady Macbeth realizes that in order for her husband to succeed, she must be filled with the “direst of cruelty” and take it upon herself to transform him into a murderer by “[pouring her] spirits in [his] ear.” (1.5.28) In addition, Lady Macbeth plots to rid Macbeth’s path of obstacles. She calls him to come quickly so that “all that impedes [him] from the golden round, [will be chastised by] the valor of [her] tongue” (1.5.30-31). Lady Macbeth plans Duncan’s murder and convinces her husband to finish the deed. In conclusion, Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy is essential to the theme of Macbeth, as it shows how an otherwise ordinary character can transform due to power-hungry ambition.
worries that Macbeth does not have what it takes to murder King Duncan, so he himself can become King. She “fears [that his] nature is too full o’th’milk of human kindness” (1.5.16-17). Agitated by his apparent weaknesses, Lady Macbeth realizes that in order for her husband to succeed, she must be filled with the “direst of cruelty” and take it upon herself to transform him into a murderer by “[pouring her] spirits in [his] ear.” (1.5.28) In addition, Lady Macbeth plots to rid Macbeth’s path of obstacles. She calls him to come quickly so that “all that impedes [him] from the golden round, [will be chastised by] the valor of [her] tongue” (1.5.30-31). Lady Macbeth plans Duncan’s murder and convinces her husband to finish the deed. In conclusion, Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy is essential to the theme of Macbeth, as it shows how an otherwise ordinary character can transform due to power-hungry ambition.