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Abbreviations and idiosyncrasies to be noted

King James: KJ
Macbeth: M
Lady Macbeth: LM
Banquo: B
The 3 witches: the 3Ws
Red writing: Something to be double-checked
S: Shakespeare

1: Introduction material

1.1: Background knowledge needed for this scene – Very Important


1. This play was written in 1606 by the bard himself, William Shakespeare,
for King James 1, the patron of Shakespeare’s acting company.
2. Hence Macbeth was written to please KJ
3. KJ spoke of the Chain of Being, a social code of sorts during the Jacobean
era, in which the King was the highest human being in terms of status,
women were underneath men.
4. A year ago, the gunpowder plot of 1605 occurred, when Guy Fawkes
attempted an assassination of KJ
5. Hence, Macbeth focuses on the consequences of breaking the chain of
being.
6. M was also a real person, he was a King (1042-1057) but of a small
amount of land
7. In this play, he is the tragic hero who lets his hamartia consume and
change him for the worse.
8. M is a general in the Scottish Army under King Duncan, who had just met
the witches and was prophersised to become Thane of Cawdor and King
of Scotland
9. He found out they were correct in relation to him becoming the Thane of
Cawdor, as Ross, another nobleman, informed him of his promotion in
A1S3.

10. His wife, LM, is introduced in this scene and functions as M’s femme fatale
after this scene

11. In Inverness (M’s castle), she reads out (refer to stage directions) a letter
from him to her, this is the first part of the extract and is in prose. The
next part is her own soliloquy on how M does not have the strength to
usurp D and become King as of now.
12. STATE WHOM THE HELL LM AND M ARE!!!
13. Themes are of Nature vs Unnatural and fate

1.2: Literary devices used


1. Agnorisis: because this is the point at which LM discovers that M will
become King
2. M’s letter has long syntaxes, indicating that he is very excited by the
words of the witches, confirming that he does want to be King.
3. Femme Fatale: what LM is to M, alluding to Eve’s persuasion of Adam to
eat the apple in “the fall of man,” leading to their downfall
1.3: Thesis Statements
1. How is the extract’s theme of the unnatural set by Shakespeare?
2. How is LM’s personality and influence over M developed by Shakespeare

1.4: Themes

2: Line-by-Line analysis

SCENE V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.

Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter


LADY MACBETH
'They met me in the day of success: and I have

learned by the perfectest report, they have more in


 “perfectest,” Diction: the use of a superlative stresses how accurate
the information from the witches is, dramatizing their unnatural
abilities to see into the future – enticing KJ in the process. This is
used here because Ross, a nobleman, confirmed their prophecy after
the witches vanished in A1S3.

them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire


 “more in them than mortal knowledge,” This phrase states that the
witches have knowledge that no living thing could have (through
mortal), emphasising how the witches are otherworldly in nature,
contributing to the unnatural air of this scene.
 “burned in desire,”: M very eager to learn more, with the fiery
intensity of something burning (“burned,”)

to question them further, they made themselves air,


 “made themselves air,” – this action that is literally described by
Macbeth is evidence of the witches’ magical abilities, and is a
testament to the supernatural aspect of this extract, a quality that
would please the man for whom the play was written, KJ.

into which they vanished. 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


 “weird sisters,”: M calls them this because of how they spoke in
unison in A1S3, hence he classifies them as sisters

me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that


 “coming on of time,”: this fuels his final speech (tomorrow on
tomorrow)

shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver


 “shalt,” Diction: synonymous with will, hence indicating that M will
become King, showing how this is M’s fate

thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou


 Plethora of things in this phrase
o Partner also implies that the 2 are equal, (because a partner is
someone of equal stature as the speaker) something that is
unnatural because a man was supposed to be of greater status
than a woman (come at me feminists).
o “greatness,”: Diction: shows great respect for LM, more than
there should be for someone lower on the chain of being

mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being

ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it

to thy heart, and farewell.'


 “lay it to thy heart,”: Imagery: this imagery implies the secretive
nature of the message, as it discusses a prophecy that would upset the
King.

The fact that M is writing this letter to LM shows that he relies on her to a
large extent. He doesn’t describe his next actions in light of what the
witches have told him, presumably because LM is the guiding force for
what he does, she instructs him and commands him, accentuating her
domineering personality.

LADY MACBETH
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
 “shalt,” diction: identical denotation to will; this shows that, by fate,
M will get what the witches said he would. This wording is similar to
that of the witches, showing how LM is also becoming an agent of
fate and will advance M’s path to becoming King

What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature;

It is too full o' the milk of human kindness


 “full o’ the milk of human kindness,” – metaphor: compares M’s
moral values to that of a young baby (as he would be full of mother’s
milk, as that is the main source of nutrition for babies), an entity that
is used as a symbol for purity and a lack of evil intentions. This is
reinforced with the word, “kindness,” which denotes this. However,
LM uses this metaphor in the context of criticising M, because the
abundance of these noble characteristics would prevent him from
ascending to the throne. This highlights LM’s lack of positive
characteristics and explicitly shows how her hubris and intent to
become Queen override any of these noble qualities. This shocks the
audience, as LM is described as being someone with few morals.
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;

Art not without ambition, but without


 “not without ambition,” – diction: M has the drive and motivation, as
denoted by the word “ambition,” to be King, however…(see below)

The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,


 “without/ The illness should attend it,” – metaphor: illness is a
metaphor for the ruthlessness required to carry out a deed as horrible
as killing a King, as euphemistically alluded to in LM’s soliloquy
(“that,” in line 23). M’s lack of it is thereby expressed in these lines,
but it is made axiomatic that LM has it because she is able to talk
about something so horrible and vile so freely, as evidenced by the
lack of caesuras just before the word illness – horrifies the audience
because they can see what a brutal woman LM is.

That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,

And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis,


 “wouldst wrongly win,”: Alliteration: the “w” alliteration makes this
sound like a witch’s spell – building up the theme of the unnatural,
gaining KJ’s attention in the process.

That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
And that which rather thou dost fear to do

Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,


 “Hie thee hither,” – arhaic diction and alliteration: Depicts to the
audience how LM has more power in the relation than M. “hie,”
means to hurry, so LM is telling M to get over to Iverness quickly,
with a large amount of authority, because this is an imperative
statement. This is accentuated by the “h” alliteration in the phrase.
Shock audience with the extent to which LM can control M

That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;


 allusion to Hamlet, similar to how King was killed in it (poison in
ear), this killing of a King is very unnatural as it breaks the chain of
being, something that was thought to cause great instability in nature.
 Metaphor: LM is possesses more masculine qualities than M. This is
also representative of the control LM can exercise over M,
transferring her qualities (spirits are a metaphor for this) into him,
showing how she is more masculine/rutheless than him, as such
qualities are needed to carry out such a treacherous deed – shock
audience to how LM is the man of the relationship so to speak.

And chastise with the valour of my tongue


 “chastise,” – diction: meaning to scold or lecture – persuasive effect
of LM’s words on M used to emphasise how she is able to control
him, more interestingly, using her words. (valour of my tongue –
tongue movement used to allow speech) – surprises audience with the
unnatural aspect of their relationship.

All that impedes thee from the golden round,


 “golden round,” – allusion to Richard the 3rd, in which Lady Anne
says, “of golden metal that must round my brow.” “must,” again
suggests the role of fate in ensuring this event occurs, linking back to
how the “golden round,” will be on M’s head due to the intervention
of fate

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem


 LM is now outright saying that fate and other transient forces are
organising for M to be crowned, directly suggesting their
involvement

To have thee crown'd withal.


 “withal,”: diction: expresses how in LM’s mind, M is already the
King, implying that fate will soon make him King (following the fate
and metaphysical aid bit)
Enter a Messenger

What is your tidings?

Messenger

The king comes here to-night.


 This line is extremely serendipitous for LM, as it allows the King to
be in close proximity with her, allowing for her plan for M to kill D
to accelerate significantly, highlighting how fate is playing a role in
this scene by organising for D to appear.

LADY MACBETH

Thou'rt mad to say it:

Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,

Would have inform'd for preparation.

3: Structural details pertaining to TSs

3.1: TS1

3.2: TS2
1. Euphemisms in LM speech, e.g “that,” – breaks apart LM’s iambic pentameter,
this is considered unnatural because iambic pentameter was always maintained
by noblewomen, hence this change is very odd
3.3: Additional stuff
1. Antithesis of “wouldst,” to show LM’s quick thinking in organising the plan to
persuade M

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