Questions and Answers
What does Lady Macbeth fear about Macbeth's nature?
What does Lady Macbeth want to do to persuade Macbeth?
Kill the King
What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, 'Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here'?
She wants to rid herself of feminine qualities.
What does Lady Macbeth want to achieve when she says, 'Make thick my blood'?
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What does Lady Macbeth wish to rid herself of when she states, 'Come to my woman's breasts, and take my milk for gall'?
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What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth regarding appearance?
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What does Lady Macbeth say to scorn Macbeth's hesitation about murdering King Duncan?
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What does Lady Macbeth reveal about her feelings at the thought of murder?
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What does Lady Macbeth foreshadow with the remark, 'It will make us mad'?
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What does Lady Macbeth accuse Macbeth of being when she says, 'Infirm of purpose!'?
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What belief does Lady Macbeth express with 'A little water clears us of this deed'?
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What advice does Lady Macbeth give regarding their past actions with, 'What's done, is done'?
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What realization does Lady Macbeth have in 'Nought's had, all's spent'?
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What question does Lady Macbeth pose to challenge Macbeth's masculinity?
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What does Lady Macbeth say during her sleepwalking scene that shows her mental state?
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What does Lady Macbeth lament about her hands in 'The thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?'
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What does Lady Macbeth state about her hands and sin with 'All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand'?
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What does Lady Macbeth mean when she states, 'What's done cannot be undone'?
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What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says, 'Banquo's buried; he cannot come out on's grave'?
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Study Notes
Lady Macbeth's Ambition and Nature
- Expresses fear of Macbeth's nature being too kind for their murderous ambitions.
- Desires to persuade Macbeth into regicide to fulfill their ambitions.
Suppression of Femininity
- Calls on spirits to strip away her feminine qualities, seeking cruel strength for the impending murder.
- Aims to sever maternal instincts, indicating a deep desire for power at any cost.
Appearance vs. Reality
- Advises Macbeth to appear innocent while concealing murderous intent, drawing parallels to biblical serpents.
Manipulation and Contempt
- Scorns Macbeth's hesitance, showcasing her ruthless approach to achieving their goals.
- Challenges his courage, pushing him to commit fully to the murder plot.
Guilt and Regret
- Reveals vulnerability by admitting she might have acted if Duncan resembled her father, highlighting her inner conflict.
- Foreshadows her descent into madness, recognizing the psychological toll of their actions.
Insanity and Consequences
- Suggests that a simple act like washing would absolve them of guilt, underestimating the weight of their crimes.
- Experiences overwhelming guilt, evident in her sleepwalking and haunting memories of the murders.
Ruined Peace and Turmoil
- Finds that attaining power brings no peace, emphasizing the emptiness of their ambition.
- Questions Macbeth's masculinity when he shows fear, reflecting the strain their crimes place on their relationship.
Inescapable Guilt
- Repeatedly expresses the permanence of guilt, symbolized by her inability to cleanse her hands of blood.
- Highlights the psychological unraveling caused by their actions, culminating in her tragic end.
Final Realizations
- Concludes that what is done cannot be reversed, marking her mental decline and loss of moral compass.
- Shares distress over the murder of Lady Macduff, indicating a broader sense of guilt for others' suffering tied to their ambitions.
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Description
Explore key quotes from Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'. These flashcards help you understand her powerful language and themes of ambition and morality. Great for studying or enhancing your knowledge of literary analysis.