Lady Macbeth Flashcards
‘Dearest partner of greatness’
Language = superlative adjective indicates how much MB loves LMB
‘Too full o’th the milk of human kindness’
Language = metaphor. LMB feminises MB; she knows he is ambitious but too kind to act upon achieving his ambitions off the battlefield. She realises that she will need to manipulate him into murdering Duncan.
“Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done’t”
‘Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it’
Language = metaphors. Serpent represents sin and evil.
Deeper meaning = LMB is like the eve in genesis tempting MB to sin
Context = James I had a medal struck with a flower and a snake to commemorate the discovery of the gunpowder plot
Reader = The Jacobean audience would recognise this. It would show that murderers like MB will be found and punished
‘Quite unmanned in folly’
Language = verb choice. LMB mocks MB for being unmasculine after he is afraid of the ghost of Banquo and LMB is worried he will give them away to the other thanes
‘Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers’
Language = alliteration emphasises LMB’s desire to replace her feminine, nurturing qualities with violent murdering ones. She even tells MB if she had a baby she would rather smash it’s brains in rather than not go ahead with murder.
Context = LMB subverts Jacobean ideals of women as gentle and maternal
Reader = shocks both modern and Jacobean audiences
‘Like the poor cat l’th’adage’
Language = simile. LMB compares him to the cat in the proverb - he wants the crown but he doesn’t want to get his hands dirty . LMB says she will do it, but drops out last minute because she says Duncan looks too much like her father.
‘ fear thy nature is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness’
Language = metaphor. LMB
feminises MB as milk is assisted with women and maternity. Off the battlefield she thinks he is too good - natured to kill Duncan to become king himself. She realises she must persuade him
