Compare Act I Scene 5 and Act V Scene 1 of the Play Macbeth.

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Jezen Thomas

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Compare Act I Scene 5 and Act V Scene 1 of the Play Macbeth

Act 1 scene 5 begins with a soliloquy given by Lady Macbeth. It comes after Macbeth has been officially named Thane of Cawdor and directly before Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle.

           It starts with Lady Macbeth reading a letter from Macbeth regarding his experience with the “weird sisters”. At this point, we see her ambition come to light for the first time because she fears that his nature is “too full o’th’ milk of human kindness”. He is not without ambition but she fears that he will not “play false”. She thinks that he is too loyal to interfere and do anything wrong, and so she wishes for him to come home soon so that she can encourage him, saying that it is his destiny to become king “Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem to have thee crowned withal”

At this point, an attendant enters and tells her that Duncan will be staying with them. This causes her speech to become full of savagery, as she builds herself up to the murder of the King.

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           She uses phrases such as “unsex me”, “direst cruelty”, “make thick my blood” and “take my milk for gall” which show that she wants to become physically and mentally powerful, and full of poison. She wants to become sexless so that she does not weaken and lose her purpose.

            She calls for hell to cover the deed and mentions her “keen knife” as if at first, she were planning to murder Duncan because she thought Macbeth would not.

           When Macbeth enters, she tells him that they must murder Duncan. She picks up on his obvious distress ...

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