Explain Shakespeares portrayal of Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 5. What is revealed about her personality and her intentions?

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Explain Shakespeare’s portrayal of Lady Macbeth in Act 1 Scene 5. What is revealed about her personality and her intentions?

The first time the audience is introduced to Lady Macbeth is in Act 1 Scene 5, when she is reading her husband’s letter informing her of the Witches’ prophecy of kingship. Shakespeare’s first portrayal of Lady Macbeth is that she is savage and vicious, as she thinks nothing of killing King Duncan. Lady Macbeth knows her husband is ambitious and his ‘nature’ is ‘too full o’th’ milk of human kindnesses, but is unwilling to play artificial to attain the objects of his ambition. Yet she is so sure of her influence over him that she prays he may return speedily so she can pour her ‘spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valour of [her] tongue, and inspire him to action and drive out any principles that may block the way to his goal.

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        When she learns of Duncan's approaching visit, she realizes instantly that Fate has delivered the King into her husband's hands, and invokes the powers of evil to ‘unsex her’, ‘make thick [her] blood’ and ‘stop up th’access and passage to remorse’ in order to carry out this horrific act. One may even suggest that this clearly shows she is evil and extremely ruthless.

        On Macbeth's arrival she takes the matter into her own hands; she does not argue or persuade, but with quiet determination assures him that the day Duncan is due to leave ‘never Shall sun that morrow ...

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