Macbeth’s Act 1 Scene 5 lines 1-36

The scene begins with Lady Macbeth reading the letter sent by Macbeth which basically informs her of success. He explained that he wet three weird sisters whom have great knowledge and they greeted him with Thane of Cawdor and promised to be hailed as the king. And truly a messenger from the king brings him the news of his new status. From the book he says “whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the King, who all-hailed me Thane of Cawdor, by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time with ‘Hail, King that shalt be! “, this doesn’t only bring joy to Lady Macbeth but provoked her in some ways that made her understood that everything will come true no matter what.

The next thing that happens is that her thought wander around with what Macbeth had told him and then a messenger comes in and bring news that the king is coming. Comparing Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is much more merciless and fierce even though she just stays at home while Macbeth is of at war. This is shown by line 14 and 15, “yet do I fear thy nature.

It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness, to catch the nearest way” this proves that she doesn’t have faith in his husband, and the second line is one of the more powerful meaning and a famous quote. Basically she says that he is full of human milk suggesting breast feeding softens people which talks bad against her own gender. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win.

The lines above shows that she does have understanding of Macbeth and this shows that she know him inside out and causes her to make sure that he will be king no matter what. The last line states that he would get what ever he desires. “Thus thou must do’ if thou have it”, Lady Macbeth says this and it is intended for Macbeth. This is very clever because two main impression stands out. One is that she will make him do it if he needs to or want it. And the second one is that she is provoking the ambitiousness in Macbeth even though she doesn’t say it directly to him but that’s her intention.

It’s like she a guard and will force or make sure he does what ever is necessary to reach his ambitions. Other quotes from the book to support that she will be next to him and make sure everything flows smooth and also she would make sure that he stays as the King, “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, And chastise with the valor of my tongue, All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem, To have thee crowned withal.

From line 28 to about 36 contains some foreshadowing of what will or could happens. Line 28 “Thou’rt mad to say it! ” she doesn’t believe that the king is coming over and was shocked because she might just have thought of something to get Macbeth to be the new king. And the last line is “He brings great news” this also suggests that she is really happy and might have something planned that could be done that night when the king is there.

It like she’s the one who will kill the king and its like she will be the new king so, slowly Shakespeare conveys the message that she is the boss through his way of poetic writing. Shakespeare is also able to convey his message and ideas to people through subtext. There is a lot of subtext in the book itself but I have identified some which has been mention above. And furthermore the way and the words used to achieve that is really great he uses words that means exactly what he wants to say for example impede and chastise.

But the language used is not very simple and quite complex. The atmosphere and tone also changes according to the characters and the things happening. At the beginning of the scene it is quite serious where Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth about his encounter with the weird sister and it changes immediately when she understood his intention to kill the king and take over the kingdom. And finally I thought that he is a great writer and poet and it is expressed in his work.