Violence + Ruthlessness

Question 1

“Take my milk for gall” - Act 1 Scene 5.

Answer 1

• Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits to replace her breast milk with gall.
• With this gall she intends to bring death which is the exact opposite to which a women should provide (life).
• She defies and ignores her intent to nurture as a mother and instead tends to bring death.

Question 2

“I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.” Act 1- Scene 7.

Answer 2

• Despite the love she may have for her child, she would abruptly stop the child from breast feeding to the extent she would murder it and smash it’s head against the wall.
• If she promised to do so.

Question 3

Why does Lady Macbeth say this?

Answer 3

• Macbeth is getting cold feet about killing Duncan.

- By demonstrating how cold and ruthless she is lady M

Question 4

“That my keen knife see not the wound it makes”.

“Nor heaven peep”.

Answer 4

• Lady Macbeth wants to be the only person aware of this dastardly deed.
• She doesn’t want even her blade to be aware of this sinful comission or for heaven to realise such deed and stop her as she realises the deeds true ruthless manner.

Question 5

“You would be so much more than a man”.- Act 1 Scene 7.

Answer 5

• Trying to goad Macbeth into agreeing to the plot by insulting his masuclinity and the potential to fulfil his role as a man.
• Macbeths thoughts:
• He wouldn’t be considered of justified as a man if he was to kill Duncan for his own personal gain.

Lady Macbeth thoughts:

• In becoming the new king, Macbeth would be even more than a man.
• Although LM is not of the male gender she is the one holding all the power in this relationship.

Question 6

“O, never shall sun that morrow see”. Act 1- Scene 5.

Answer 6

• ## Lady Macbeth confirmes that soon Duncan will not be present to see the light of day ever again.

Question 7

“What not to put upon his spongy officers , who shall bear the guilt”. Act 1: Scene 7.

Answer 7

• Lady Macbeth plans to drug to gaurds to frame them of their deed in order to get away with it.
• Although, they weren’t doing their jobs consistently, they didn’t deserve to die as they were innocent.
• Shows Lady Macbeths intelligence + Willingness to go to further extents to achieve what is desired.
• Unfazed by the thought of framing to innocence individuals for their execution.

Question 8

Act 2: Scene 2( After Duncan’s death).

- “ A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight”.

Answer 8

• LM doesn’t feel any guilt.
• As opposed to Macbeth who does.
• However:
• Although, she feels guilty and filled with horror she is putting on a brave face for Macbeth as shwon by her later epi