lady macbeth quotes

“Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”

Act 1 - appearance vs reality

Flower= innocence and femininity

Serpent= biblical illusions to hell and temptation with Adam and Eve.

She is going to show her external innocence of a flower yet use her internal malevolent power as a serpent.

“Dash’d the brains out”

Act 1 Masculinity is subverted

Lady MB is an atypical woman of the time as she yearns to embody these masculine traits as she believes masculinity is synonymous with power so tries ro remove herself with femininity I.e a mother.

“Dashed”- violent verb to show her strong disassociation with feminine expectations and therefore embodies masculine traits.

“Come thick night”

Act 1- supernatural

Calling upon external spirits to strip her of her femininity.

Ironic as in act 5 she is trying to see the light again as she has asked too much of these supernatural powers

Foreshadowing consequences of being involved with supernatural as it destroys her mental state.

Stage direction of [enters with a taper]

Holding candle which signifies her need and want for light

Grasping on to hope that her sins can be cleansed and that she can revert back to her old self

Her insanity is a warning of calling upon supernatural

“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”

“All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”

• Act 5, Scene 1 – She believes nothing can cleanse her of the guilt of murder.