Commentary on passage from Macbeth
This passage, taken from the fifth scene of act I, is Lady Macbeth's soliloquy prior to the arrival of King Duncan. Earlier in the Act, Macbeth and Banquo had encountered the three witches who told them both various predictions for their future. Banquo was told he would be father to Kings and Macbeth told that he would first become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland one day. When, after a display of his valor during a battle, the King gave Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor and part of the witches' prophecy had become a reality, Lady Macbeth began plotting to kill King Duncan so that the second prophecy would also come true, and Macbeth would infact become King. After receiving news that Duncan would be traveling to the Macbeth castle to stay as their guest, Lady Macbeth's plans became within reach and she organized with Macbeth that the murder would take place during the King's visit. As she stands awaiting the King's arrival, Lady Macbeth gives this speech which creates a dark tone and carries a motif of death foreshadowing the death of the King, as she prepares herself mentally and physically for the mur
All through the speech, the surroundings are given adjectives emphasizing their sinister nature such as the "hoarse" raven on line 45 and Lady Macbeth's "mortal thoughts" on line 48. The killing will require the couple to be brutal and guilt free. She must rid herself of all of her weaknesses and become powerful and relentless. Black in colour and with a hoarse voice, the raven is a well known symbol of death soon to come. With this atmosphere of sinister fatality engulfing the Macbeth caste and its inhabitants, all that is left for Lady Macbeth is to prepare herself for the task that lies before her. With the perfect "hell" environment surrounding her and the images of death keeping her guided, Lady Macbeth gives one last speech to the spirits asking for their assistance. She begs for her feminine personality to be replaced with that of masculinity on this mortal, eerie scene that foreshadows the death of King Duncan. She wants her plans to run smoothly with no disruptions, and since she is so determined that Macbeth will receive the title of King, she will not allow the couple to fail. This image of the night literally being covered like a coffin continues the whole death motif to a whole new level. She asks that "No compunctious visitings of nature shake fell [her] purpose", that nature be held at bay and unable stop her from achieving her goals. The dark and gloomy environment in this passage is exacerbated by Lady Macbeth's use of diction. This destiny that Duncan is about to be confronted with is that of his death. In order to commit the murder with Macbeth, Lady Macbeth feels the need to embody masculinity, strength, and cruelty. This time the whole night has become entombed in a casket of death. After being given the perfect opportunity to fulfill the witches' prophecy and kill King Duncan to claim the thrown for Macbeth, Lady Macbeth becomes very focused and determined to succeed in her murder plans.
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