Act 1 Scene 5 Summary In Inverness Macbeths

Act 1 Scene 5

Summary In Inverness, Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth reads to herself a letter she has received from Macbeth. The letter announces Macbeth’s promotion to the thaneship of Cawdor and details his meeting with the witches. Lady Macbeth murmurs that she knows Macbeth is ambitious, but fears he is too full of “th’ milk of human kindness” to take the steps necessary to make himself king (I. v. 15). She resolves to convince her husband to do whatever is required to seize the crown. A messenger enters and informs Lady Macbeth that the king rides toward the castle, and that Macbeth is on his way as well. As she awaits her husband’s arrival, she delivers a famous speech in which she begs, “you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the top-full / Of direst cruelty” (I. v. 38– 41). She resolves to put her natural femininity aside so that she can do the bloody deeds necessary to seize the crown. Macbeth enters, and he and his wife discuss the king’s forthcoming visit. Macbeth tells his wife that Duncan plans to depart the next day, but Lady Macbeth declares that the king will never see tomorrow. She tells her husband to have patience and to leave the plan to her.

Things to focus on Lady Macbeth’s opinions about her husband What Lady Macbeth plans to do, and why Our first impressions of Lady Macbeth * The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth * * Also think about this from a feminist perspective

“Yet I do fear thy nature. It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” (15 -16) After reading the letter from her husband, Lady Macbeth is certain that the witches’ prophecy will come true and that Macbeth will, one day, become king of Scotland, just as they promised him. However, she is aware of the possible weaknesses and failings in her husband. She is worried that her husband lacks the ruthlessness to seize the crown. She fears that he is too good-natured to strike aggressively at the first opportunity. She knows that he wants to be powerful, and she knows that he is ambitious, but she thinks that he lacks the necessary strength of will to take the necessary steps to become king. She believes that he would rather become king by legitimate means and that he is afraid to do what needs to be done to get what he truly wants.

Dramatic techniques Soliloquy Characterisation

“Hie thee hither! That I may pour my spirits in thine ear” (24 -25) When her husband arrives back to their castle, Lady Macbeth is determined to persuade him that he must take action to seize the crown. She intends to convince him, by any means necessary, to kill Duncan. She will assuage any doubts or fears that he may have that are preventing him from doing what needs to be done. She intends to control her husband’s actions as he will not be capable of committing the murder without her coercion. Lady Macbeth knows that if her husband kills Duncan it will change the rest of their lives as they will now have the power, prestige and wealth that comes with royalty. She is clearly just as ambitious as Macbeth and intends to be the driving force behind her husband’s accession to the throne.

Dramatic techniques Soliloquy Characterisation

“Come, you spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here!” (39 -40) Lady Macbeth asks the spirits to make her less like a woman and more like a man so that she is able to commit violence and cruelty and thus accomplish her goals. She wants to be free from the shackles of her femininity and embrace the strength and power that comes with masculinity. She wants to be filled with deadly cruelty instead of love and affection. She wants to be free from remorse or compassion so that nothing will prevent her from accomplishing her plan to convince her husband to kill Duncan and seize the crown. She is willing to do whatever is necessary to seize throne. Unlike her husband, she has strength of purpose and does not waver or have any doubts. She wants the night to hide in darkness the cruelty, violence and murder that she intends to unleash. In this soliloquy, her words are filled with the imagery of death and destruction and her intentions are described in the most grotesque and frightening terms.

Dramatic techniques Soliloquy Characterisation

“look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it” (64 -65) When Macbeth returns to the castle, Lady Macbeth takes control immediately and sets in motion her plans to have her husband commit regicide by killing Duncan. She makes it clear to her husband that Duncan will not leave the castle alive and that she will make the necessary arrangements- for the time being he does not have to do anything. The gender roles are reversed: she has adopted an active and prominent role in the murder, whereas her husband is much more passive and more like her accomplice. She tells him that his face betrays his feelings about the strange events that have taken place recently and that people will be able to see that he is not himself and may become suspicious. She tells him that he must deceive them by appearing as they expect him to appear. He must greet the king with warmth and be hospitable and welcoming to him even though, underneath, he is planning to betray him. The king, and everyone else in the castle, must not suspect that they are plotting to usurp the throne through murder.

Dramatic techniques Dialogue Characterisation

Act 1 Scene 6

Summary Duncan, the Scottish lords, and their attendants arrive outside Macbeth’s castle. Duncan praises the castle’s pleasant environment, and he thanks Lady Macbeth, who has emerged to greet him, for her hospitality. She replies that it is her duty to be hospitable since she and her husband owe so much to their king. Duncan then asks to be taken inside to Macbeth, whom he professes to love dearly.

Things to focus on The falsehood of Lady Macbeth Our first impression of Macbeth’s castle in Inverness

“The air nimbly and sweetly recommends itself unto our gentle senses” (1 -3) As far as King Duncan is concerned, Macbeth’s castle is almost like a paradise and it fills him with delight. The surroundings are pleasant, calm and peaceful and the air appeals to his senses and is more fragrant than anything that he has ever been accustomed to. Duncan’s words are loaded with dramatic irony as Macbeth’s castle is the place where he is to be brutally and violently murdered that very night when he is betrayed by Macbeth. Dramatic techniques Setting Dramatic irony

“All our service, in every point twice done and then done double” (14 -15) Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan to the castle with great warmth and hospitality and she greets him with the upmost humility and respect. Lady Macbeth informs Duncan that it is her duty to be hospitable since she and her husband owe so much to their king. She states that there is nothing that she could do for Duncan to thank him enough for the honour he has brought her family. Her elaborate greeting and her display of loyalty and respect for King Duncan emphasises her duplicity as it contrasts so greatly with her plotting with Macbeth to have Duncan killed. By being so hospitable and obsequious to Duncan, she lulls him into a false sense of security and she is able to hide her true motives and her treachery. Duncan does not suspect anything.

Dramatic techniques Dialogue Characterisation

Act 1 Scene 7

Summary Inside the castle, as oboes play and servants set a table for the evening’s feast, Macbeth paces by himself, pondering his idea of assassinating Duncan. He says that the deed would be easy if he could be certain that it would not set in motion a series of terrible consequences. He declares his willingness to risk eternal damnation but realizes that even on earth, bloody actions “return / To plague th’inventor” (I. vii. 9– 10). He then considers the reasons why he ought not to kill Duncan: Macbeth is Duncan’s kinsman, subject, and host; moreover, the king is universally admired as a virtuous ruler. Macbeth notes that these circumstances offer him nothing that he can use to motivate himself. He faces the fact that there is no reason to kill the king other than his own ambition, which he realizes is an unreliable guide.

…continued Lady Macbeth enters and tells her husband that the king has dined and that he has been asking for Macbeth declares that he no longer intends to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth, outraged, calls him a coward and questions his manhood: “When you durst do it, ” she says, “then you were a man” (I. vii. 49). He asks her what will happen if they fail; she promises that as long as they are bold, they will be successful. Then she tells him her plan: while Duncan sleeps, she will give his chamberlains wine to make them drunk, and then she and Macbeth can slip in and murder Duncan. They will smear the blood of Duncan on the sleeping chamberlains to cast the guilt upon them. Astonished at the brilliance and daring of her plan, Macbeth tells his wife that her “undaunted mettle” makes him hope that she will only give birth to male children (I. vii. 73). He then agrees to proceed with the murder.

Things to focus on Macbeth’s doubts and inner-conflict about killing Duncan How Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to carry out the murder of Duncan

“If it were done when ’tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly” (1 -2) Macbeth states that he would gladly risk his soul and his place in heaven by murdering Duncan if he were certain that there would be no adverse consequences for him and that he would accede to the throne with no further obstacles in his path. However, he is worried that he will be punished in some way by committing such a heinous crime as killing his king. He is concerned that by committing violence, he will be inviting violence onto himself. Macbeth is well aware of the gravity of the act of regicide. He is anxious that there will be some form of justice for his actions, either in this life or in the afterlife.

Dramatic techniques Soliloquy Characterisation

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition” (25 -27) Macbeth admits that his only motivation for killing Duncan is because he is ambitious for power and prestige and that he wants Duncan’s throne for himself. He admits that Duncan has been a humble, virtuous and kind leader who is free from corruption and tyranny. He knows that Duncan’s death will be mourned throughout Scotland as he is well-loved and highly respected monarch who inspires great loyalty in his subjects. He knows that there are no moral justifications for killing him. Macbeth is also aware that, as his subject and family, he should always try to protect Duncan. Furthermore, as his host, he should be keeping Duncan safe from any harm. He is tempted by the prospect of power, but is having doubts about killing his king.

Dramatic techniques Soliloquy Characterisation

“We will proceed no further in this business” (31) Macbeth informs his wife that he no longer has any intention of killing Duncan and that he is putting a stop to their plans. He tells her that he is unwilling to kill Duncan as he has just honoured him with a new title and this has given him greater power and prestige already. He is concerned that they may fail in their plan and he is not willing to risk the terrible consequences if they are caught.

Dramatic techniques Dialogue Characterisation

NB At this point, Macbeth is filled with doubt, confusion and uncertainty about killing Duncan and seems to have made up his mind that he will not carry out the murder. However, Lady Macbeth is aware of her husband’s innerconflict and is able to calm his doubts and fears and convince him to go through with the murder. Macbeth’s hesitation and resistance about killing Duncan are not strong enough to withstand his wife’s ability to manipulate him.

“When you durst do it, then you were a man!” (49) Lady Macbeth is able to manipulate her husband convince him to carry out the murder by questioning his masculinity. She successfully uses words which taunt, rather than persuade. She tells him that if he decides not to kill Duncan then, in her eyes, he will no longer be a man: it was only when he seemed resolved to kill Duncan that he truly became a man. She taunts and almost mocks him for his cowardice. She tells him that she does not understand his change of heart as the time and place are perfect for the murder to happen. She accuses him of breaking a promise to her by deciding against the murder. She accuses him of being a coward who is too afraid to act in the way that he desires to grasp the power that he wants.

Dramatic techniques Dialogue Characterisation

“But screw your courage to the sticking place” (60) Lady Macbeth is able to assuage her husband’s fear and doubt by convincing him that they cannot possibly fail in their plans to murder Duncan. She reassures him by explaining the details of the murder and the steps that she will take to ensure that Macbeth is able to murder Duncan without being seen or opposed. Furthermore, she intends to frame Duncan’s servants so that no suspicion or blame will ever fall on them. She shows herself to be ruthlessly efficient. As a result, all of Macbeth’s objections seem to evaporate and he seems convinced that there will be no terrible consequences for him. He promises to exert every muscle in his body to carry out the murder.

Dramatic techniques Dialogue Characterisation