Macbeth - Analysis of Act 5 scene 1
Analysis of Act 5 scene 1 - The Sleepwalking ScenePerformed by the Royal Shakespeare Company 1978Featuring Judi Dench as Lady MacbethIn this scene the stage is set with a black background to create an eerie atmosphere for the viewers. Everyone is dressed in black, which creates the impression of evil and darkness being present in this scene. With the exception, of course, of the nun (gentlewoman) who has white on the headpiece of her Abbott hinting that she has goodness in her. This completely contrasts with Lady Macbeth who is dressed completely in black suggesting that evil has completely overcome her. The scene begins with a conversation between the gentlewoman and the doctor. From the text we are unable to determine what the gentlewoman's true feelings are towards Lady Macbeth. It could either be feeling of pity or uncompassionate feelings towards her. In this particular performance the director has chosen the lines to be delivered so as we can clearly see that the gentlewoman shows no compassion towards Lady Macbeth throughout the scene. Due to the fact that she is dressed as a nun and she is uncompassionate towards Lady Macbeth's state we can only interpret that this is done to
A person may also be diagnosed with insanity depending on whether or not they begin to revert to very childlike actions. She enters the stage at the beginning biting them and she is constantly trying to wash them and rub at them. It is also known to happen when the person has become insane, suggesting that she herself is on the verge of insanity. She also says, "will these hands ne'er be clean?" with a sorrowful childlike quality. Another observation we make as we watch this performance is that she is no longer wearing any make up and all jewellery has been removed. Also right throughout the play so far she has portrayed herself as being the strong domineering one. After delivering her last line she retreats to the darkness where she came from, symbolising her entry into eternal darkness and torment. Other sections that were performed childlike by Judi Dench are, "Yet here's the smell of the blood still". She delivers Lady Macbeth's character in such a way that we cannot help but feel sorry for her. This play was directed so that the atmosphere is constantly tense and eerie and due to the lack of props and scenery the audience's full attention is always on the characters. Although she was originally strong she has obviously deteriorated mentally and therefore seems to be no longer the strong woman she originally was. Judi Dench performs this scene as though the character is actually insane. When she mentions all the deaths, after Duncan that have taken place she does not mention them in chronological order but in the order which she thought them most important. So strong that her husband thought that she should "Bring forth men-children only" as her "undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males". She now appears "unsexed", she has received darkness (although, ironically she is now afraid of it), she has disintegrated completely and she wails like the witches did at the start of the play.
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