Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7 Notes

Credit this to Miss Ng =) The explanation parts I will upload later, but it is my own so it might be slightly faulty!

Act 1, Sc 7:

1) Character Analysis

Lady Macbeth’s character

Lady Macbeth is a very determined woman. This is shown by how determined she was to get Macbeth on the throne of Scotland. When Macbeth tells her that “We will proceed no further in this business”, she brings the force of her personality and convince him to go ahead with the murder. To show her steely sense of purpose, she used the shocking, violent image of how she would have killed her own child regardless of her feelings if she has “sworn as” Macbeth had to get the kingship. Macbeth was so filled with admiration for his wife’s “undaunted mettle” that he exclaimed she is worthy to “bring forth men-children only”.

1) very strong-willed/ determined

Very determined to get Macbeth on the throne of Scotland

- when Macbeth tells her that he has changed his mind about murdering Duncan (“We will proceed no further in this business” ), she brings the force of her personality and all her persuasive powers to convince him to go ahead with the murder

- to show her steely sense of purpose she uses the shocking, violent image of how she would have killed her own child regardless of her feelings if she had “sworn as” Macbeth had to get the kingship / kill Duncan.

- Macbeth is so filled with admiration of his wife’s “undaunted mettle” that he exclaimed she is worthy to “Bring forth men-children only”.

2) intelligent & manipulative

Uses her knowledge of her husband to effectively manipulates him into changing his mind and going ahead with the murder

– goads him into the murder by undermining his manhood eg

“When you durst do it, then you were man” – when he dared to dream of becoming king by murdering Duncan, then he was being a man

- questions his love for her

“From this time such I account thy love” implying that if he loves her he would kill Duncan otherwise, his love is as weak as his sense of resolve

- finally convinces him to carry out the murder by making it easy for him to kill Duncan as she has already planned how they would carry out the murder

3) appears evil/ cruel and ruthless

- claims she is capable of cold-bloodedly murdering her own child - the shocking image of herself violently killing her innocent child by dashing its “brains out” (contrasting images) if she “had sworn to do so” – can disregard the strong bond between mother and child at a very tender moment when she is nursing her child - shows how totally heartless and ruthless she can be - is determined to gain the kingship and ruthlessly manipulates her husband to do the murder

- is willing to blame Duncan’s two innocent “chamberlains” for Duncan’s murder

4) Practical & Intelligent

- devises a simple but effective plan for murder

– when Duncan is asleep, she will make the 2 bodyguards drunk so that Macbeth can kill the king easily (no protection and no witness) and they can put the blame on the two bodyguards to prevent suspicion from falling on them

Macbeth’s character

1) too ambitious/ lust for power

- in his soliloquy, he admits that his only reason for killing Duncan is his “Vaulting ambition” - he aspires to be the king of Scotland

– says he is willing to damn his soul for all eternity – “We’ld jump the life to come” - if he could be assured that the success of the murder would make him king without any dire consequences

- Lady Macbeth says Macbeth wants “the ornament of life”, that is, the crown of Scotland – she also mentions Macbeth “breaking this enterprise” to her earlier, that is, the idea of becoming king (through murder)

2) Intelligent and has a conscience

- is clearly aware of the immorality/evilness of the act of killing Duncan and the consequences (spiritual, ethical and secular) of this act

- refer to his soliloquy where he contemplates all the reasons for not killing killing Duncan

1) his fear of punishment eg there is “judgment here” and “this even-handed justice” would bring “the ingredients of our poison'd chalice to our own lips”

2) his betrayal of Duncan’s trust (explanation required)

3) Duncan being a virtuous king eg how Duncan’s “virtues” would “plead like angels, trumpet-tongued” against his killing

3) Is morally weak

- against his better judgement, he allows his wife to goad and shame him into

committing “this terrible feat”, the murder

– succumbs to his masculine pride to prove that he “dare do all that may become

a man”

- also succumbs to his overwhelming desire to be king