“O never shall sun that morrow see” (i.v line 59-60) the use of pathetic fallacy foreshadows the death of Duncan, but also the scheming nature of Lady Macbeth. The fact that Lady Macbeth has a prolonged speech, especially as a woman, displays her importance to the play and she builds up to the complication of the play, the exposition of her character is evident that she will be influential in the decisions of Macbeth. The reference to the serpent could be a reference to the biblical story of creation and therefore implying the much like Eve, Lady Macbeth has been tempted into the world of evil thus will pay for her transgressions. Both quotes refer to the conscience of the pair, but also their concealment towards the others in the play, riding them of guilt and shame. Concealment it also reflected in the quote “my keen knife see not the wound it makes” (i.v line 51), equivocal to a conversation shared by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth later “your hand…look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (i.v line 64-65). Pathetic fallacy is also employed “come, thick night”(i.v line 49) it foreshadows the tumultuous affect that Lady Macbeth will have upon the decision concerning Duncan’s murder, moreover it stresses the gothic theme of darkness and concealment suggesting ultimately that Lady Macbeth from this point forth will be shrouded by darkness. It also permits the passage of ‘natural spirits’ which could be attributed to feelings such as pain but also compassion, therefore leading to Lady Macbeth’s downfall as she becomes tormented with evil. “Make thick my blood, stop th’access and passage to remorse” (i.v line 42-43), the use of symbolism in Macbeth is evident and ‘blood’ is a symbol for guilt, it is clear later on that Lady Macbeth may never be free of her shame. “Unsex me here” (i.v line 40) the stripping of her feminine qualities displays a departure from the human realm, moreover it goes against the social norms of the time of women being meek and mild Lady Macbeth is presented as driven and wild. King James also believed at points in his life that he was controlled by witches, therefore Lady Macbeth may be controlled by the supernatural leading to her evil. “Come you spirits” (i.v line 41), the physical act of summoning the darkness to fill Lady Macbeth could portray her as a Witch, moreover contextually the dealing with the ‘dark arts’ was seen as taboo and was forbidden. The communication with supernatural is evident in Lady Macbeth’s speech in Act 1 Scene 5 and there is many points that can be drawn out from the language, which also relate to structure and form. It is also revealed that Lady Macbeth wished to influence her desire for Macbeth to become King “that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valour of my tongue”(i.v line 28). Implying clearly that Lady Macbeth has a connection with the supernatural and foreshadows the taunts that Lady Macbeth will serve to Macbeth questioning his manlihood. It also foreshadows the destruction that Lady Macbeth will impose upon her husband therefore suggesting that she could be viewed as a ‘femme fetale’ figure. “milk” also suggests the motherly tone of Lady Macbeth, suggesting that Macbeth has not been brought up to be a brutal murderer but a man of honour, conveying the virtue of his character. Shakespeare reveals Lady Macbeth’s assessment of her husband “yet I do fear thy nature, it is too full o’th milk of human kindness” (i.v line 14-15) suggesting that Macbeth is weak willed and he will not commit murder because he is too noble of a character. In the construction of the female Gothic this scene is of great importance, as it displays Lady Macbeth’s qualities, the supernatural, evil and womanhood. In scene 5 we are introduced to the character of Lady Macbeth.
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