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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
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
1.4: Themes
2: Line-by-Line analysis
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
That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
And that which rather thou dost fear to do
Messenger
LADY MACBETH
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