Macbeth Analysis

Opening
Good afternoon, my name is Alexandra Tsalidis, I am in Mrs. Haji’s Grade 10 class, and today is
April 12 2017. I will be analyzing Act 1 Scene 5 (lines 28 to 62), which involves Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth, and is set in Inverness, Macbeth’s castle. I will approach this extract by first
focusing on the concept of the Supernatural, then the idea of Appearances versus Reality, and
finally how Lady Macbeth dominates her husband.

Introduction
This scene occurs in the rising action of the play, after Macbeth first met the three witches, and
joined King Duncan who was full of praise and gratitude. Prior to this extract, Lady Macbeth had
just received news of Duncan’s coming. Hence, the audience now watches her reaction to this,
as well as the dialogue she engages Macbeth in, as this is also the first time the audience sees
the two together. Shakespeare explores Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s initial relationship by
emphasizing her immediate plotting of Duncan’s murder and how she entrains her husband
into assisting her. This is done through the use of metaphor, allusion and structure.

First Point
The idea of the supernatural is prominent right from the commencement of the play; yet it
intensifies significantly during this passage through metaphors and allusion. Firstly, it is clearly
evidenced in lines 30 and 31, when Lady Macbeth says “Come, you spirits, that tend on mortal
thoughts, unsex me here.” The metaphor in these lines connotes the evil power of these spirits,
as Lady Macbeth exclaims they disturb human minds. The fact that she is calling to creatures of
such evil, to take away something as natural as her femininity underlines her progressive
connection to the supernatural. Moreover, Lady Macbeth will eventually participate in the
murder of Duncan so the fact that Shakespeare accentuates the wickedness of these spirits
links back to her calling upon the supernatural, before committing the most unnatural act of all.
Furthermore, from lines 40 to 44, Lady Macbeth calls upon the forces once more to surround
her with smoke, to the point where heaven cannot look through and stop her. Here, Macbeth
combines a nature metaphor with a biblical allusion, to highlight how she wants to exploit
nature so that it hides her. Intriguingly, Duncan had used nature metaphors in the first scene,
but in that context, he was the nurturing gardener, whilst here Lady Macbeth aims to exploit
nature and hide from it. She wants her intents of murder concealed from heaven, which
Shakespeare has inserted to emphasize her determination, as she aims for not even heaven to
stop her. It is important to emphasize that in that era, heaven was the chief judge of human
actions, so for her to defy and hide from it, the audience becomes perceptive to gravity of the
act she plans on committing – an act against the chain of being and therefore nature. All in all,
these lines connect to the Supernatural and display to the audience Lady Macbeth’s attraction
to it.

Second Point
Furthermore, this passage strongly correlates to the concept of Appearances versus Reality. In
lines 60 to 61, Lady Macbeth implores Macbeth to appear like an innocent flower, but be the
serpent underneath it. This is a biblical allusion to the garden of Eden, where the devil took the
form of a serpent. The effect of this stylistic choice is vital as Lady Macbeth is urging Macbeth to
have a certain appearance of innocence, as a flower, but within be like the devil. In fact, this
ties into the theme as this is a prime example of dissemblance. Additionally, in lines 58 to 60
Lady Macbeth directly declares, Macbeth should “beguile the time, Look like the time, and bear
welcome in his eye, his hand and his tongue. Figuratively speaking, she wants him to be
deceptive, to look like everyone like everyone expects him to look, even friendly. This ties into
the idea of dishonesty is seen a sin, so for Macbeth to be so deceptive augments the
wickedness of murder. However, lady Macbeth appears to not be troubled by this at all. The
metaphor she uses underlines this, as it emboldens the fact that he must look like the present
time, how he is expected to look, and not betray his thoughts. His hands, by which she means
his actions, should also not betray his thoughts, and nor should the words spoken by his
tongue. This prompts the audience to wonder whether the falsification of all these expressions,
actions and words doesn’t confine a person. Consequently, this confinement appears to reduce
the humanness of person which in itself seems to set up Macbeth for the critical act: murdering
Duncan. In summation Shakespeare ties the idea of Appearances versus Reality into Lady
Macbeth’s counsel.

Third Point
Perhaps most importantly, throughout this passage Lady Macbeth’s dominance is evident,
through the structure and commanding diction used. To begin, from the point where Macbeth
enters the room, Lady Macbeth has 16 lines, whilst Macbeth only has 3. This structural choice is
significant as it reflects that as the more dominant character, Lady Macbeth has more to say
and is more ready to say it. Macbeth submissively confines himself to short and concise
statements, whilst Lady Macbeth’s explanations are extensive and intricate. This shows that in
their relationship, Lady Macbeth appears to be the one ready to say what the audience is aware
Macbeth had previously been thinking, which makes her stronger and dominant. Furthermore,
from lines 58 to 65, she uses commanding phrases, such as “look like the time” or “be the
serpent” and “you shall put”. Although at this time it was not for a woman to order a man, Lady
Macbeth aims to detach herself from this femininity, and in doing so takes on the dominant
role of the man. Shakespeare groups all these phrases together in a manner which appears as if
she relaying upon Macbeth a plan, whilst he, with his short responses and explanations can
only meekly register. All these points combine to create a relationship of unbalanced power
between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Conclusion
In conclusion, this is a key passage of the play as it displays for the first time, not only Lady
Macbeth’s character and thoughts, but also how this affects Macbeth, which shows how certain
characteristics can affect relationships. Shakespeare accomplishes this by first expressing Lady
Macbeth’s characteristics in her response to Duncan’s arrival, and then presenting her role in
her relationship to Macbeth. Naturally, this will not last as after the murder of Duncan actually
occurs these roles will switch.