act 5 scene 1 events and quotes Flashcards
what is Lady Macbeth doing in this scene?
sleepwalking
what does her ritual of washing her hands symbolise?
- her remorse and guilt he feels
- she is seeking redemption
- she is turning into a manic, crazy lady
what is the act of washing her hands like for her?
- soothing, comforting act
- heightens her isolation
- she does not talk to anyone else- therefore she needs to give commands to herself
Lady Macbeth has descended into a form of what?
psychosis
“It is a accustomed action with her… (gentlewoman)
to seem thus washing her hands”
what does Lady Macbeth say that shows she is living in her own version of Hell?
“Hell is murky!”
what is a parallel between her and Macbeth in this scene?
- “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?”
- Macbeth says earlier in the play- “Will Neptune’s great ocean’s clean this blood off of my hands?”
- shows how Macbeth was feeling guilt at the beginning and now is evil- other way round for Lady Macbeth
what is the gentlewoman concerned about what Lady Macbeth says?
- “She has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that: heaven knows what she has known”
why is the gentlewoman concerned about what Lady Macbeth says?
- Lady Macbeth has admitted what she has done
- the gentlewoman & doctor are suspicious
- they cannot tell anyone though because it would be treacherous
what motif keeps recurring in this scene?
sleep
what quote is parallel to when Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth to plant the daggers on the guards immediately after the regicide?
“Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale”
what quote is parallel to “what’s done is done”?
“What’s done cannot be undone”
what is significant about the sentences “To bed, to bed!… come, come, come…to bed, to bed, to bed”
these sentences don’t link- becomes even more chaotic and frenzied- foreshadows her mental state later on- leads to her death
what is similar about Lady Macbeth saying “To bed, to bed, to bed!”?
similar to after the banquet when Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost- she tells Macbeth to come to bed
what quote shows the extent of Lady Macbeth’s mental state?
“My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight”
