Lady Macbeth Analysis
She is a "fiend" and Shakespeare wants us to see her as a villain.
She's a victim of the patriarchy & Shakespeare wants us to sympathise with her.
She is the cause of M's hamartia
The causes of LM's ambition
Dæmonologie (James VI, 1597)
"[A]s that sex is frailer than man is, so is ... easier to be entrapped in these gross snares of the Devil, ... proved to be true, by the Serpent's deceiving of Eve at the beginning."
Clear allusions to "Look like th'innocent flower, but be the serpent under't."
Juxtaposition between flower and serpent.
Duplicitous, deceitful nature of LM.
This nature conforms to James' Dæmonologie (1597). Because she's a woman, it is easier for LM "to be entrapped in these gross snares of the devil."
Simplified: "that sex (female) ... easier to be entrapped in these gross snares of the devil, proved to be true, by the Serpent's deceiving of Eve."
Thus, LM being evil appeals to King James VI.
Imperative Verbs "look" & "be"
Serpent has biblical allusions to Genesis.
LM coaching her husband; matriarchal power dynamic. This would be criticised by Jacobean Audiences.
Message: Matriarchy, and women in power, is BAD!!!
A1S5 Analysis
The letter
"My dearest partner of greatness." = They're equals.
Thou = Low Status
Prose = Also Low Status
"Thou" and "Prose" emphasise both the Macbeths' low status'. This is juxtaposed with the aspiration of "greatness". Macbeth is subtly proving LM with a reason for regicide; status.
"Milk of Human Kindness"
Role Reversal: M is "too full of milk". LM wants to replace her "milk for gall". Milk = Femininity. M=feminine. LM=masculine.
"Milk" = Macbeth is feminised, seen as a coward, belittled...
"Unsex me here"
LM can only achieve power in this patriarchal society by becoming masculine. Jacobean Society sees this as evil, but is a natural, human response to this society.
Shakespeare is saying patriarchy leads to evil. Feminist?
Macbeth manipulates LM.
When LM says "take my milk for gall", LM doesn't want to epitomise her husband.