Line-by-Line Explanation of Act 1, Scene 5
LADY MACBETH, reading the letter
● “They met me in the day of success, and I have learned by the perfect’st report
they have more in them than mortal knowledge.”
○ Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth's letter describing his encounter with the
witches. He marvels at their supernatural knowledge, which transcends
human understanding.
● “When I burned in desire to question them further, they made themselves air, into
which they vanished.”
○ Macbeth recounts how he wished to learn more from the witches, but they
disappeared suddenly.
● “Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it came missives from the King, who
all-hailed me ‘Thane of Cawdor,’”
○ While Macbeth was still amazed by the witches’ prophecy, a message arrived
from King Duncan confirming that he was now the Thane of Cawdor.
● “By which title, before, these Weïrd Sisters saluted me and referred me to the
coming on of time with ‘Hail, king that shalt be.’”
○ Macbeth recalls how the witches addressed him as Thane of Cawdor and
also predicted his future as king.
● “This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that
thou might’st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is
promised thee.”
○ Macbeth refers to Lady Macbeth as his “partner of greatness” and shares the
prophecy so she can also share in the excitement and ambition it has
sparked.
● “Lay it to thy heart, and farewell.”
○ He urges her to keep this revelation close to her heart, showing his trust and
affection.
LADY MACBETH (soliloquy)
● “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised.”
○ Lady Macbeth acknowledges that Macbeth has already gained two titles and
is destined to become king, as foretold by the witches.
● “Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the
nearest way.”
○ She worries that Macbeth is too compassionate and moral to seize the crown
by the quickest means, which would require ruthless action.
● “Thou wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should
attend it.”
○ Lady Macbeth recognizes Macbeth’s ambition but doubts whether he
possesses the necessary ruthlessness to achieve his desires.
● “What thou wouldst highly, that wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false and
yet wouldst wrongly win.”
○ She reflects that Macbeth wants greatness but wants to achieve it honorably,
avoiding deception or wrongdoing.
● “Thou ’dst have, great Glamis, that which cries ‘Thus thou must do,’ if thou have
it.”
○ Lady Macbeth notes that Macbeth desires the crown but hesitates to commit
to the actions needed to obtain it.
● “Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear.”
○ She resolves to influence Macbeth by persuading him to act decisively and
ambitiously.
● “And chastise with the valor of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden
round.”
○ Lady Macbeth plans to scold and inspire Macbeth to overcome any doubts
or obstacles to claim the throne.
MESSENGER enters
● “The King comes here tonight.”
○ The messenger informs Lady Macbeth that Duncan will visit their castle that
evening.
● “Thou ’rt mad to say it.”
○ Lady Macbeth is surprised, thinking it unlikely since no prior preparations
were made.
● “Is not thy master with him, who, were ’t so, would have informed for
preparation?”
○ She questions why Macbeth hasn’t sent word of Duncan’s visit, as proper
arrangements would need to be made.
● “So please you, it is true. Our thane is coming.”
○ The messenger confirms Duncan’s arrival and Macbeth’s return.
● “Give him tending. He brings great news.”
○ Lady Macbeth dismisses the messenger, recognizing the opportunity
presented by this unexpected visit.
LADY MACBETH (soliloquy)
● “The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my
battlements.”
○ Lady Macbeth metaphorically refers to Duncan’s arrival as his death
sentence, symbolized by a raven, an omen of death.
● “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.”
○ She calls upon dark forces to strip her of feminine compassion and fill her
with cruelty.
● “And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.”
○ Lady Macbeth wishes to be consumed entirely by evil to carry out the murder.
● “Make thick my blood, stop up th’ access and passage to remorse.”
○ She asks to be made immune to feelings of guilt or pity.
● “Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall, you murd’ring
ministers.”
○ She asks for her nurturing nature to be replaced with bitterness and deadly
resolve.
● “Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell.”
○ Lady Macbeth invokes darkness to hide their deeds from heaven and prevent
any divine intervention.
MACBETH enters
● “Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor, greater than both by the all-hail hereafter!”
○ Lady Macbeth greets Macbeth, celebrating his rise in titles and the witches’
prophecy of kingship.
● “Duncan comes here tonight.”
○ Macbeth informs Lady Macbeth of Duncan’s arrival at their castle.
● “And when goes hence?”
○ Lady Macbeth promptly asks when Duncan plans to leave.
● “Tomorrow, as he purposes.”
○ Macbeth replies that Duncan intends to leave the following day.
● “O, never shall sun that morrow see!”
○ Lady Macbeth declares that Duncan will not live to see tomorrow.
● “Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters.”
○ She warns Macbeth that his expressions might reveal his hidden intentions.
● “Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under ’t.”
○ She advises Macbeth to appear kind and welcoming while concealing his
deadly intent.
● “He that’s coming must be provided for; and you shall put this night’s great
business into my dispatch.”
○ Lady Macbeth takes charge of the plan to murder Duncan that night.
● “We will speak further.”
○ Macbeth is hesitant and suggests they discuss the matter later.
● “Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear.”
○ Lady Macbeth reassures Macbeth, urging him to maintain composure and
leave the planning to her.
Detailed Summary of Act 1, Scene 5
In this pivotal scene, Lady Macbeth reads a letter from her husband, Macbeth, informing her
of the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth, who has just been named Thane of Cawdor, recounts
his encounter with the witches, who hailed him as Thane of Cawdor and predicted his future
as king. Lady Macbeth is thrilled by the news but quickly fears that Macbeth, despite his
ambition, lacks the ruthlessness required to seize the throne. She believes that while he has
the ambition, he is "too full o’ th’e milk of human kindness" to commit murder and act
decisively.
After the messenger arrives with the news that King Duncan will visit their castle that night,
Lady Macbeth seizes the opportunity and begins to prepare for Duncan's murder. She calls
upon dark spirits to strip her of her feminine qualities and fill her with cruelty. She wants to
be filled from head to toe with “direst cruelty,” so that she can carry out the murder without
hesitation or remorse. She also calls for thick darkness to cover their actions, so that no one
can witness their treachery.
Macbeth arrives and shares that Duncan is indeed coming that night, and Lady Macbeth
immediately begins to plot his murder. She tells Macbeth that he must appear innocent and
welcoming on the outside, but hide his true, murderous intentions. She assures him that she
will handle the details of the crime, but he must simply follow her lead. She believes that the
murder of Duncan will give them both the power and the position they desire.
Themes of Act 1, Scene 5
1. Ambition and Ruthlessness:
○ Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy in this scene reveals her belief that ambition alone
is not enough for greatness; one must also possess the ruthless
determination to achieve it. She fears that Macbeth’s ambition will be
tempered by his kindness and moral qualms. Her desire to "unsex" herself
and reject her feminine qualities symbolizes her belief that women are too
gentle for the cruelty she believes is necessary to seize the throne.
2. Supernatural Influence:
○ The influence of the witches is evident in this scene, as their prophecy has
sparked both Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s ambitions. Lady Macbeth, in
particular, seeks the help of dark spirits to remove her conscience and fill her
with cruelty. This supernatural call reflects the power of fate and the lengths
to which the characters are willing to go to fulfill their desires.
3. Gender and Power:
○ Lady Macbeth’s wish to be “unsexed” and filled with “cruelty” is an
exploration of gender roles and power. At the time, women were often seen
as weak and nurturing, while men were associated with strength and power.
Lady Macbeth challenges these traditional gender roles, embracing the
need for cruelty and strength to achieve her goals. She urges Macbeth to
adopt a false appearance of innocence, revealing how power often requires
deception.
4. Deception and Appearance vs. Reality:
○ Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to "look like th' innocent flower, but be the
serpent under ’t." This illustrates the theme of deception and the need to
conceal one’s true intentions. Throughout the play, characters are often
forced to mask their true selves in order to achieve their ambitions, leading to
tragic consequences.
5. Fate and Free Will:
○ Although Macbeth is promised greatness by the witches, Lady Macbeth is
the driving force behind the action. She encourages him to take fate into his
own hands and act to fulfill his destiny. The scene questions the relationship
between fate and free will, suggesting that while the witches' prophecy may
be true, it is the characters' choices that ultimately lead to their downfall.
Significance of Act 1, Scene 5
This scene is crucial in setting the tone for the rest of the play. It marks the moment when
Lady Macbeth fully embraces the role of instigator, pushing Macbeth toward murder to
secure the throne. Her willingness to call upon dark forces to strip her of her femininity and
morality highlights the theme of unchecked ambition and the corrupting power of desire.
The scene also deepens the conflict within Macbeth. While he is ambitious, he is initially
hesitant and reluctant to commit murder. Lady Macbeth manipulates him, appealing to his
sense of honor and ambition while assuring him that her plan will succeed. This
manipulation is significant as it sets the stage for Macbeth’s moral decline throughout the
play. By the end of the scene, Macbeth has resolved to follow through with the murder of
Duncan, setting into motion the tragic events that will unfold.
Summarization and Critical Appreciation
Summarization (Detailed): In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth receives a letter from her
husband, Macbeth, informing her of the witches’ prophecy. The letter tells of Macbeth's
new title as Thane of Cawdor and the witches' prediction that he will one day become king.
Lady Macbeth is thrilled by the news but fears that Macbeth lacks the necessary cruelty to
achieve his ambition. She wishes for her own moral and emotional softness to be removed
and replaced with ruthless determination. When a messenger arrives with the news that
King Duncan will visit their castle that night, Lady Macbeth sees this as the perfect
opportunity to act. She plans to murder Duncan and tells Macbeth to appear welcoming,
even though his true intentions are deadly. Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and
determination set the stage for the tragic events to follow.
Critical Appreciation: Act 1, Scene 5, is a crucial turning point in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
This scene shows Lady Macbeth’s strength and ambition, presenting her as a driving force
behind Macbeth’s eventual actions. Her soliloquy is one of the most powerful in the play,
highlighting her willingness to abandon her humanity in order to achieve power. The themes
of ambition, gender, and morality are explored deeply here. Lady Macbeth’s desire to be
“unsexed” and filled with cruelty reveals the lengths to which she is willing to go to gain
power. Her manipulation of Macbeth also showcases the theme of appearance versus
reality, as she advises him to act innocent while hiding his true intentions. The scene also
foreshadows the tragic consequences of unchecked ambition and sets the stage for the
moral downfall of both characters.
Five 5-Mark Long Answers (100-150 words each)
1. How does Lady Macbeth respond to the news of her husband’s new title?
○ Lady Macbeth is initially thrilled by the news that her husband has been
named Thane of Cawdor, but her excitement quickly turns to concern. She
fears that Macbeth, despite his ambition, lacks the ruthlessness needed to
seize the crown. She believes that he is too full of human kindness and would
not be able to commit the necessary murder to fulfill his destiny. This reveals
her own cold ambition and willingness to abandon any moral constraints to
achieve power.
2. Explain Lady Macbeth's attitude towards Macbeth’s ambition.
○ Lady Macbeth acknowledges that Macbeth has ambition, but she fears that
he lacks the cruelty required to fulfill his desires. She believes that he would
hesitate to commit murder and take the necessary steps to gain power. This
concern drives her to take control of the situation, calling upon dark forces to
remove her own compassionate nature and replace it with the cruelty
needed to achieve their goals.
3. What is the significance of Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy in this scene?
○ Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy is significant because it reveals her true character.
She calls upon dark spirits to rid her of her femininity and fill her with cruelty,
showing her willingness to abandon any moral or emotional constraints to
achieve her ambitions. This soliloquy marks the moment when she fully
embraces the role of instigator, plotting Duncan’s murder and manipulating
Macbeth to carry out her plan.
4. How does Lady Macbeth prepare for Duncan’s arrival?
○ Lady Macbeth prepares for Duncan’s arrival by immediately planning his
murder. She tells Macbeth to appear innocent and welcoming on the outside,
while secretly harboring murderous intentions. She assures him that she will
take care of the details of the crime and that they must act swiftly to seize the
throne. Her ability to manipulate Macbeth and take charge of the situation
highlights her ruthless ambition and determination.
5. Discuss the theme of appearance versus reality in this scene.
○ The theme of appearance versus reality is central to this scene. Lady
Macbeth advises Macbeth to "look like th’ innocent flower, but be the
serpent under ’t," urging him to deceive Duncan by appearing welcoming
and trustworthy while secretly plotting his murder. This contrast between
appearance and reality is a recurring theme throughout the play, as
characters often conceal their true intentions to achieve their goals, leading
to their ultimate downfall.
Five 5-Mark Long Answers (200-250 words each)
1. How does Lady Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ prophecy reveal her
character?
○ Lady Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ prophecy reveals a great deal about
her character. When she learns of Macbeth’s new title and the witches’
prediction that he will become king, she immediately recognizes the
potential for power and ambition. However, her reaction also reveals her
concern that Macbeth lacks the necessary ruthlessness to achieve this
ambition. While Macbeth is kind and honorable, Lady Macbeth believes that
he is too morally good to commit the murder required to seize the throne.
This belief shows that Lady Macbeth is willing to abandon her moral compass
to achieve her ambitions. She desires power above all else and is willing to
sacrifice her humanity to gain it. Her willingness to “unsex” herself and call
upon dark spirits to rid her of compassion shows how far she is willing to go to
achieve greatness. Lady Macbeth’s character is marked by ambition,
ruthlessness, and a lack of morality, and she will stop at nothing to see her
husband crowned king, even if it means resorting to murder.
2. What role does Lady Macbeth play in influencing Macbeth’s decision to murder
Duncan?
○ Lady Macbeth plays a crucial role in influencing Macbeth’s decision to
murder Duncan. While Macbeth is initially hesitant, torn between his ambition
and his moral conscience, Lady Macbeth manipulates him into action. She
challenges his masculinity and questions his courage, urging him to prove his
ambition by carrying out the murder. She also reassures him that their plan will
succeed, framing the murder as a necessary step toward achieving power.
By downplaying the consequences and focusing on the rewards of kingship,
Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to take action. Her ability to manipulate
and control Macbeth shows her strength of character and her resolve to see
their ambitions realized, even if it requires the ultimate sacrifice. Lady
Macbeth’s determination and unwavering belief in the necessity of Duncan’s
murder play a pivotal role in Macbeth’s decision to carry out the crime. Her
actions show how the manipulation of others can lead to tragic
consequences, as her influence over Macbeth sets the stage for the downfall
of both characters.
3. Discuss Lady Macbeth’s desire to rid herself of her femininity in this scene.
○ Lady Macbeth’s desire to rid herself of her femininity in this scene reflects her
belief that she must abandon the traditional qualities associated with
women, such as kindness and compassion, in order to achieve her ambitious
goals. She calls upon dark spirits to “unsex” her, asking them to fill her with
cruelty and remove any softness that might prevent her from carrying out the
murder of Duncan. This desire to reject her femininity and embrace ruthless
masculinity shows how Lady Macbeth views power and ambition as traits that
are inherently male. In her mind, to gain power and achieve greatness, she
must become something other than the traditional woman. Her soliloquy
reveals how societal gender roles influence her actions and the lengths to
which she is willing to go to gain power. This desire to reject her femininity
also foreshadows her eventual descent into madness, as the burden of guilt
and remorse she later experiences overwhelms her. Her character challenges
traditional gender roles, showing how women can be just as ambitious and
ruthless as men, but also revealing the devastating consequences of
rejecting one’s humanity in pursuit of power.
4. How does Lady Macbeth manipulate Macbeth in this scene?
○ Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth through a combination of questioning
his masculinity, appealing to his ambition, and reassuring him that their plan
will succeed. When Macbeth hesitates to follow through with the murder of
Duncan, Lady Macbeth challenges his courage, accusing him of being less
than a man. She tells him that he would be more of a man if he were to commit
the murder, thus playing on his insecurities and urging him to act decisively.
She also reassures him that they will not fail and that she will handle the
details of the crime. By framing the murder as a necessary step to achieving
their goals, she convinces Macbeth that it is the only way forward. Lady
Macbeth’s manipulation is effective because it taps into Macbeth’s own
desires for power and status, using both emotional appeal and practical
assurance to convince him to act. Her role as instigator and manipulator is
central to the unfolding tragedy, as her ability to control and influence
Macbeth drives him toward the murder that will ultimately lead to their mutual
destruction.
5. What are the implications of Lady Macbeth’s speech about darkness and
concealment?
○ Lady Macbeth’s speech about darkness and concealment has significant
implications for the themes of the play. She calls upon the night to come and
conceal her actions, asking for darkness to “pour [its] thickest” around them.
This desire for darkness symbolizes her wish to hide her treacherous actions
from the world and avoid the consequences of murder. It also suggests her
desire to shield herself from the moral consequences of her actions.
Darkness is often associated with evil and secrecy in the play, and Lady
Macbeth’s invocation of the night foreshadows the moral blindness she and
Macbeth will experience as they commit further crimes. Her plea for darkness
also highlights the theme of appearance versus reality, as she seeks to create
an illusion of innocence while hiding the reality of her murderous intent. This
speech reinforces the play’s exploration of deception, as Lady Macbeth’s
external facade of hospitality and kindness will conceal her internal malice
and ambition. The darkness she calls upon serves as a metaphor for the moral
darkness that will envelop both her and Macbeth as they continue down their
destructive path.
