Lady Macbeth's Supernatural Connection
Lady Macbeth's character takes a darker turn as she invokes evil spirits, demonstrating her willingness to embrace the supernatural for power. This scene in Act 1, Scene 5 is crucial for understanding her character's depth and motivations.
Quote: "Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here" (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 39-40)
This invocation reveals Lady Macbeth's desire to shed her femininity, which she perceives as a weakness. Her request to be "unsexed" reflects the Elizabethan association of masculinity with ambition and violence.
Definition: Unsex - To deprive of gender characteristics or qualities.
Lady Macbeth's language in this scene draws parallels to the witches' speech, establishing a connection between her and the supernatural forces in the play. Her use of metaphorical language and her desire for physical transformation echo the witches' own incantations.
Highlight: The similarities between Lady Macbeth's speech and the witches' language suggest a possible transformation of Lady Macbeth into a witch-like figure.
The character's rejection of femininity is further emphasized by her wish to "make thick [her] blood" and stop the "passage to remorse." This imagery suggests a desire to halt menstruation, symbolically rejecting her womanhood and the associated qualities of sensitivity and tenderness.
Example: The description of the witches as bearded women in Act 1, Scene 3 parallels Lady Macbeth's desire for defeminization.
The use of enjambment in Lady Macbeth's speech creates a musical flow, reminiscent of a spell or charm. This stylistic choice reinforces the supernatural elements of her character and her scheming nature.
