Act 1 Scene 4

• Duncan’s love of Macbeth is evident as he refers to him as: “worthiest cousin”. Use of the superlative and word choice of worthy show the high esteem in which Duncan holds Macbeth.
• The atmosphere is at times gruesome due to the discussion of “execution”. The Thane of Cawdor’s fate highlights the importance of loyalty and the terrible consequences of those who fall outside of the expectations.
• Macbeth is officially bestowed the title: “Thane of Cawdor” – thus beginning the confirmation of the Witches prophecy…
• Structure – the first line of this act begins with the reference to “execution”. Thus creating the atmosphere. (constant references to death)
• “Let not light see my black and deep desires” – contrast/ word choice/ juxtaposition of Macbeth’s character

Act 1 Scene 5

Conventions of a Jacobean woman – seen and not heard, man’s property

Lady Macbeth – introduced as defying the conventions/ expectations of a Jacobean woman:

“Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear”.  Reference to the supernatural.

Macbeth is further presented as noble/ heroic. Kind : “too full of the milk of human kindness”. Ironic that Lady Macbeth slates someone for being too full of the “milk” as she is feminine. Already she seems to despise feminine qualities, this highlights her cold nature. She associates herself with the masculine.

• “raven” – omen of death

Act 1 Scene 5

• The Jacobean era’s most reviled crime was regicide – the killing of the king. Therefore Lady Macbeth is not simply killing, she is committing or planning to commit the worst crime possible.  The audience would be shocked, appalled, disgusted. It is important to understand the gravity of her intent.

	The raven himself is hoarse The raven has a bad voice/ has lost his voice
	That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan That croaks to introduce Duncan’s entrance which will be deadly/kill him in my house.	40
	Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
	That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, Come to me the supernatural, make me a man
	And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full And make me from head to toe evil and cruel/make me totally evil
	Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood; Make me unrepentant/ not care
	Stop up the access and passage to remorse,
	That no compunctious visitings of nature
	Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between
	The effect and it! Don’t let anything stop me Come to my woman's breasts,
	And take my milk for gall, Remove my mothering milk (link to Macbeth) you witches you murdering ministers,
	Wherever in your sightless substances	50
	You wait on nature's mischief! You enjoy these acts. Come, thick night,
	And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, Night come and hide me, and don’t let me see what I do (religious language heaven vs. hell)
	That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
	Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, Don’t let God see my actions (she does have a conscience, aware of her wrongdoing and also of the afterlife) and try and stop me.
	To cry 'Hold, hold!

Act 1 Scene 5

LM to M: “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it”.  Serpents are linked to religion and reference the snake in the Garden of Eden who tempted Eve to take the apple. Reference to religion further highlights the serious nature of the upcoming events.

Just as an innocent flower is…so LM wishes Macbeth to be…

Just as a serpent is…so LM wishes Macbeth to be…

LM: “Leave to all the rest to me” – Lady Macbeth speaks to Macbeth using a command. The use of command highlights how LM is in charge of M and is the one with the power.  This defies the stereotypical role of a woman and a wife in the Jacobean times. Therefore it can be argued that she is an unconventional hero.

The entrance of Duncan and Banquo to Macbeth ‘s castle contrats greatly with LM:

LM – raven  Banquo – martlet who lives in churches and so is associated with holiness and purity.

The contrasting introductions to Macbeth’s castle highlight the differences between the two groups.