Lady Macbeth's somnambulism : Act 5

Question 1

lady macbeth is rendered a…

Answer 1

carcass of insanity throughout act 5

Question 2

lady macbeth act 5

Answer 2

• she concedes to a state of hallucinogenic madness that macbeth displayed when he was poisoned with guilt, attempting to wash the imaginary blood clean from her hands
• ‘out, damned spot! out i say!’

Question 3

‘out damned spot! out i say!’

Answer 3

• directly juxtaposes her litotes in act 1 scene 5, ‘a little water clears us of the deed’

Question 4

‘spot’

Answer 4

• emblematic of the scar that murder has created on her mind

Question 5

symbolism of sleepwalking

Answer 5

• operating within a liminal realm between walking and sleeping
• conveys she is trapped within her mind
• could suggest the blurring of the two facets of her personality