“To alter favour ever is to fear”. Lady Macbeth says this to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is saying that if you change your mind, you had better watch out!
In Act 2 Scene 2 Lady Macbeth has prepared for the murder and waits for Macbeth. In the Beginning of Scene 2, she has different moods. “That which hath… made me bold”. She sounds bold and courageous when she says that. The next line she says is “What hath quench them hath given me fire, Hark! Peace”, she is startled from outside noise. She realises it is a bird shrieking. “It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, which gives the stern’st good night” she says as she is relieved.
When Macbeth has returned from the murder and Lady Macbeth is worrying. Macbeth then tells his wife that he has done the deed. Around this part, iambic pentameter is being used: “Did not you speak?” “ When?” “ Now” “ As I decended?”. The words may not be in the same line but is spoken in a sort of rhythm. All the words spoken are spoken in fear and many questions.
Lady Macbeth later says to Macbeth “ These deeds must not be thought, after these ways, so, it will make us mad"” She is saying to him to sort himself out, otherwise, he will just go mad. Later, she sees he has brought back the daggers. Lady Macbeth realises that it was a bad idea to bring them back. Macbeth refuses to take them back to the scene so; Lady Macbeth takes the daggers and puts them back in the bedroom. She says “Infirm of purpose’, Give me the daggers”. She seems to have no fear about the situation, but there seems to be some sort of nervousness in her. Macbeth’s wife returns with blood stains all over her hands. She points out that they both have bloodstained hands by saying, “My hands are of your colour, but I shame, to wear a heart so white”. She makes Macbeth feel that they are both equal to blame for the murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is trying to straighten out Macbeth although he is still quite fearful. She also mentions “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t”. She tries to make Macbeth feel reassured and that Macbeth can justify to what he has done.
Lady Macbeth does not reappear until Act 2 Scene 3. In this scene Macduff is appalled by Duncan’s death Lady Macbeth is told of Duncan’s death but says “What, in our house?”. She seems puzzled but not at all shocked. She does not show feelings of what a natural woman would do. After a while Macbeth has killed the guards assumed of killing the king. Lady Macbeth has now fainted and is taken for treatment. She has maybe because of Macbeth’s speech that he gives, so she faints to distract attention from him. There could be something concerning her or worrying her. It could be real after all that she has been through, and is affected by physical weakness. Macbeth is now king, but Banquo suspects him of foul play. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth invite Banquo to a formal banquet. Macbeth and his queen are very concerned to make their first public entrance as impressive as possible. In Act 3 Scene 2 Lady Macbeth deals with Macbeth’s mood of depression. Macbeth believes that they have only “scorched the snake, not killed it”. He cannot stop thinking about the murder, but Lady Macbeth urges her husband to put the past behind him. She does not know that Macbeth has a plot to kill Banquo. Macbeth has calmed down towards the end of the scene. Banquo has now been murdered but Fleance escapes. At the banquet, Macbeth is told of Banquo’s murder. He also hears of Fleance’s escape and is very unsatisfied. Macbeth turns his attention back to the banquet. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth “My royal lord, you do not give the cheer”. She is telling Macbeth to please his people as a good host should do. While Macbeth is talking, he sees Banquo’s ghost in his seat. His reaction startles his guests so; Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband. “Sit, worthy friends.” My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth” are the words that Lady Macbeth explains Macbeths’ actions. The ghost disappears but reappears again making Macbeth go insane. Banquo’s continues to haunt Macbeth, but Macbeth insists his guests stay. Lady Macbeth urges the guests to leave. She fears Macbeth will say too much. Lady Macbeth then tells everyone “A kind good night to all”.
After the banquet, Lady Macbeth is very quiet. She seems tired and drained. Maybe it is because of tiredness or even more than that. By this time, Macbeth has seen the witches again, to ask of his future. Lady Macduff has been killed with her son. In Act 5 Scene 1, we see Lady Macbeth again, but this time she has been through different moods. Lady Macbeth’s waiting gentlewoman has called in a doctor to view Lady Macbeth’s actions in her sleepwalking. She speaks of references concerning Duncan and Lady Macduff’s deaths. Lady Macbeth refers to her hands that seem to have specks of blood by saying, “Out damned spot, out I say!”. She seems haunted by what she has done. The doctor tells the gentlewoman to call on a priest rather than a doctor and to keep a close eye on Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is now ready to fight a battle, and hears of his wife’s’ illness which cannot be explained. The doctor tells Macbeth of his wife and says, “Cure her of that” as if he is not concerned. Since the murder the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth has deteriorated and does not seem to be getting any better.Macbeth has turned very confident. Seyton brings him news that Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth feels drained and tells of how she should have died older. To reflect on his wifes’ life he says “She should have died hereafter, there would have been a time for such a word”. He reflects upon her life, and does not hear of Lady Macbeth again.
