Act 1, Scene 5 — Lady Macbeth

How does Lady Macbeth learn of the prophecies

Through a letter from Macbeth

What does the letter reveal about their marriage

They are close partners — he calls her his "dearest partner of greatness"

"Too full o' th' milk of human kindness"

Lady Macbeth's fear that Macbeth is too gentle to seize the crown

Lady Macbeth's plan

To persuade Macbeth to murder Duncan and take the throne

"Unsex me here"

Lady Macbeth asking spirits to strip away her femininity and fill her with cruelty

"Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts"

Lady Macbeth calling on evil spirits, linking her to the witches

"Make thick my blood, stop up th' access to remorse"

Lady Macbeth asking to be made incapable of guilt or pity

"The raven himself is hoarse"

Ominous imagery announcing Duncan's fatal arrival at the castle

"Look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't"

Lady Macbeth telling Macbeth to hide his intentions behind a kind face

"Leave all the rest to me"

Lady Macbeth taking control of the murder plan

Who seems more powerful in this scene

Lady Macbeth — she dominates the conversation and directs Macbeth

"Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell"

Lady Macbeth calling for darkness to hide the murder

How Lady Macbeth subverts gender roles

She rejects traditional femininity and takes the dominant, ruthless role

Macbeth's response to her plan

Hesitant — he says "We will speak further"

Theme in Scene 5

Ambition and the corrupting power of desire for control