Okay folks, here is the place where you should post a comment about Lady Macbeth's decline throughout the play. Remember to reference the pair of lines you have chosen from your handout, and comment about what those lines reveal about Lady Macbeth's transformation. I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts!
29 comments:
E.
“A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!” (2.2.86-87)
This is the situation when Macbeth decides that he will not proceed the plan of murdering King Duncan because he believes that he saw blood stains on his dagger. However, Lady Macbeth who is in a great desire for power and authority convinces Macbeth that the plan will go well and everything will be fine. Due to her strong persuasion, Macbeth decides to assassinate King Duncan and seize the throne again.
In this situation, Lady Macbeth is boiling with lust for her power. Therefore, if I was Lady Macbeth at that situation, I will be frustrated with Macbeth because it is not only chance for Macbeth to hold the throne but also for me to be in the position where so much control can fall upon me. However, Macbeth is trying to let go of the opportunity. Also, in this kind of situation, I believe that there is nothing else in Lady Macbeth’s mind other than the brilliant future and the great dream that she might accomplish. That is why she says “little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!” , not even considering the consequences that may follow after the assassination.
“What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.45)
This is the situation when a doctor comes to Dunsinane to have a look at Lady Macbeth’s strange illness of sleepwalking. As the doctor is talking to the gentlewoman, Lady Macbeth suddenly enters the scene as she is sleepwalking and subconsciously talks about the assassination of Macduffs and Banquo. She says that the smell of blood cannot be removed from her hands and nothing even the finest perfume from Arabia will not do so. Then everyone is sort of amazed at Lady Macbeth’s symptom and the story that she speak of.
The feeling that Lady Macbeth experiences at this situation is afraid and worried. As Macbeth finished another plan of murder other than that of Duncan and Banquo, Lady Macbeth is now in concern of her hands are also sanguinary and cannot erase the guilt that she and Macbeth has committed. Now she is feeling guilty to the greater degree than Macbeth and believes that nothing will be able to get rid of the blood that is spilled all over her hands. “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” Psychologically Lady Macbeth is in a great suffering where she cannot endure the pain of guilt.
These two lines show a great comparison between the characterization of Lady Macbeth from the beginning of the play to the almost the end of the play. It is clear that Lady Macbeth is very ambitious person in the early stage because of her strong persuasion and the luring words that put Macbeth back on the track of killing Duncan. On the other hand, when the play is about to end, Lady Macbeth, has a such a transformation to a person who is now all concerned about the guilt that she has committed and ashamed of what she have done; making the readers to go “Huh? What is happening to her?”
E.
1) "A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!" (2.2.86-87)
This quote is said by Lady Macbeth after Macbeth kills King Duncan. Following his murder of Duncan, Macbeth returned to Lady Macbeth drenched in his blood. Lady Macbeth was appalled when she saw Macbeth covered in blood with the murder weapon in his hands. So she quickly went back to the chamber, wiped the guards with Duncan’s blood, and left the knives with the guards. Because of this she became directly involved in the crime.
Lady Macbeth first criticizes Macbeth for being such a coward thus forcing her to get her hands dirty. Obviously judging from the quote Lady Macbeth said to Macbeth, she is less concerned about the murder than Macbeth. She truly believes that washing the blood off of her hands will make her feel at ease. She thinks as long as people can’t see the evidence she will be free from guilt.
2) “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?”
Lady Macbeth had trouble with sleeping (or something to that extent), and a doctor and a gentlewoman were there in Lady Macbeth’s room to check up on her. After two days, Lady Macbeth finally showed her symptoms of sleepwalking. When she sleepwalked she had a “flashback” of killing Duncan. She was surprised how much blood Duncan has in him. Then she thought about the death of Lady Macduff, and she wanted Macbeth to stop killing people because it might ruin everything.
This quote shows her regret for killing Duncan. She also feels responsible for Lady Macduff’s death, even though she wasn’t directly involved in the crime. Lady Macbeth is truly afraid about what she did and what Macbeth did (that’s why she always has a light beside her bed, she is afraid of the dark). She tries to “wash her hands,” but the guilt is not washed away. Instead, it haunts her every moment of her life.
3) Contrary to her belief that guilt can be swept away by washing the physical evidence when killing King Duncan, Lady Macbeth quickly realizes that such a heinous sin can not be hidden under the closet. Extreme guilt and fear haunts her, thus she is greatly affected by it. One crime was enough to feel tremendous guilt; however, Macbeth, blinded by his greed, commits more crimes. As a result, Lady Macbeth feels responsible for the evil deeds Macbeth did, because she was the one who persuaded him to do his first murder. Now that Macbeth has turned into a self-absorbed-monster, Lady Macbeth is mentally and physically pushed to the edge.
1) "Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures...
If he do bleed,
I'll glid the faces of the grooms withal..." (2.2.69-70,71-72)
2) "Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" (5.1.41-42)
Lady Macbeth says the first quote right after Macbeth comes back from killing King Duncan. So far she hasn't experienced the horror of death and murder. When Macbeth comes back with the daggers, Lady Macbeth has to make a decision whether or not she will become a part of the murder. She takes the dagger herself back to the murder room, which indicates that Lady Macbeth accepts to take the responsibility of the murder. In the quote, she compares Duncan's corpse as a sleeping man. We can see that she thinks it's an easy job, a "piece of cake", being involved with a murder, that it's nothing but a simple task. She was confident and fierce about the murder, unlike Macbeth. Before and during the murder, Lady Macbeth was strong and not a bit guilty. Taking the dagger back herself shows that she wanted to get this job done and done well. She says how if things go wrong, then she will fix it- she will make it work. Lady Macbeth wasn't hesitatant.
In the second quote, we see an huge transformation with Lady Macbeth's quote. This quote shows signs of regret, shock, and weakness. She was so confident and strong about murdering Duncan, but in the quote she gives a tone of regret- she didn't think things would get this far and bad. She thought a murder was nothing- describing how going to a dead man is like going to a sleeping man. What's ironic is that Lady Macbeth thought that she was in power, that she was strong, but in the end the murder takes power over her and destroys her instead. We no longer see the fierce, confident woman in Lady Macbeth. She wanted to use Duncan's "blood" to cover up conflicts, but instead the "blood" covers her up and takes control; she no longer has power.
UGH so annoying! I just typed a post and then lost it because of the wireless at the GUNTHERS HOUSE! MAY A CURSE BE UPON THEM! :)
ok ok, back to this.
In the first quote Lady Macbeth states "Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures...if he do bleed I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal..." (2.269-70,71-71) This quote takes place after Macbeth brings the daggers back from the murder scene. She says this line as if to strengthen her case to him that his deed must be done and it must be done right. As she states that even if he does bleed or even if there is guilt to be found in this act let it rest upon another man's conscience. This therefore shows why she places the blood upon the faces of "the grooms" as if to relieve her own humanity of the heinous things they've done. In this scene, Lady Macbeth's true motive is to achieve everything the witches foreshadowed for Macbeth and nothing less. She doesn't know how far gone Macbeth becomes near the end of the play. She just wants him to heartlessly murder one man for the sake of himself.
Near the end of the play though we see Lady Macbeth truly convicted by what she has done as she states, "Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" (5.1.41-42) as if in response to her previous statement of "gilding the faces of the men in the blood". She sees now that even after covering their faces in the blood there is still more blood to be covered, and more shame to hide. The guilt is taking over her for crimes she never even committed. She feels as if this one man's blood has spurred Macbeth's thirst for more and more blood and power. She feels the true culprit behind it all and she can't erase the guilt from her mind. With this quote she seems to be asking her self, how can so much guilt pour from such a small sin? We see therefore that, though she didn't see it from that time, she has become one of the reasons for Macbeth's change in character. As the blood of Duncan has flowed from one murder and is unable to dry up.
I"m sorry Mrs. Lavender but i forgot which one i was assigned. but i think it was E.
"What will these hands ne'er be clean?" (5.1 44-45)
In this scene, Lady Macbeth is having a hard time sleeping, and is very perturbed after the deaths pile up on her conscious. The Doctor and the maid stand watching as she starts sleep walking and sleep talking of all the heinous acts she and Macbeth have committed. She mentions each of the deaths that they have caused; Duncan, Banquo, Lady Mcduff and her restlessness and deprivation of sleep shows this disturbia that she has gotten.
this quote perfectly shows how disturbed Lady Macbeth has become as she washes her hands in her sleep and tries to wash off the blood "spot". she roughly rubs her hands, pleading why the stains won't washy away, and why the guilt keeps burdening her. she uses the word never, which is a strong word as she claims that the guilt and blood will never be gone from her no matter what she tries.
"My hands are of your color, but i shame to wear a heart so white" (2.2 82-83)
In this scene, Macbeth has come back from the murder of Duncan, in a very shocked state. Therefore, he forgets to leave the bloody daggers with the passed out guards in order to set them up. Lady Macbeth urges him to return and place the daggers with them but Macbeth refuses saying that he can't bear seeing what he had just done. So Lady Macbeth calls him a coward and says that she will take them back and when she returns, she has the same blood on her own hands.
This phrase shows her confidence and aggressiveness towards the murder. She claims that it is easy to wash off and that " a little water will clear us of this deed" which shows how easily she gets over this crime. she claims that she isn't as cowardly as Macbeth and that its almost an embarassement to "wear a heart so white" and to feel guilty and sorry for their act. This shows her aggressive nature earlier on the play and it contrasts with the phrase above as there's a stark contrast in her tone and manner as well as the guilt that she feels, as it slowly creeps into her throughout the play.
"What's done is done." (3.2.14)
Lady Macbeth says this line to Macbeth after Duncan’s murder and he has been crowned king. I picture her saying it with a stern matter of fact voice, which implies Duncan's murder is the end of the story and there is no use dwelling on it anymore. It is simply over with and Macbeth needs to get rid of "those thoughts that should indeed have died with them". This reveals that Lady Macbeth thinks what her part in the murder has no big consequences and now that they are King and Queen they should forget about the past, put all murdering thoughts away, and move on.
"What's done cannot be undone." (5.1.71)
This is uttered by Lady Macbeth during her sleep walking. She is referring to the murders as the act that cannot be undone which reveals that she is haunted by her part in the murder of Duncan. Her conscious has caught up to her and she realizes that the murders should not have happened, but because it cannot be undone she is left to suffer in her deep guilt and remorse over her part in the murder. I think this is further shown by the context of this quote because the repetitions evoke such urgency as if she is being tormented by her guilt.
“To bed, to bed. There’s knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come. Give me your hand. What’s done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed.”
Thus, the change in Lady Macbeth’s character is that she transforms from a strong woman into someone totally consumed by guilt.
F.
1) "Get on your nightgown, lest occasion calll us
And show us to be watchers."
This line is from the end of Act 2, Scene 2, where Macbeth had just murdered Duncan and Macduff and Lennox came to Macbeth's castle to wake Duncan up. At this stage, we see that Macbeth is still very much in shock and horror of what he had done, as seen from lines,
"Be not lost
So poorly in your thoughts."
by Lady Macbeth and from lines that follow,
"To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself."
by Macbeth. We can see from specific lines in this scene, such as,
"...I shame
To wear a heart so white."
and,
"A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight."
that Lady Macbeth is pretty annoyed by how timid and "white-hearted" Macbeth is about his murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is even frustrated by his weak-heartedness because Macbeth goes on about the things he imagined to have heard just before killing Duncan and because he even forgot to leave the dagger in the chamber. When she told him to replace it, she finds him to be foolish for being scared and replaces the dagger herself.
2)"Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. Look not so pale."
This line of Lady Macbeth appears towards the end of her sleepwalking. During her sleeptalk, Lady Macbeth reveals her darkest secrets. She talks to herself about the murder of Duncan, that of Banquo, and those of Macduff's wife and children. She is clearly disturbed and tormented by what she had done. We see a range of emotions revealed in her sleeptalk. First, we see desperation to erase her deeds from memory;
"Out, damned spot, out I say!"
Then some apprehension about the consequences that would follow;
"Hell is murky."
We see horror;
"The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean?"
"Here's the smell of blood still."
Then we see her trying to console herself in the lines given. This whole body of speech by Lady Macbeth reveals her internal struggles and mental torment. We can see from the given lines that she wants to cover up what she has done and wants to forget it. The actions, such as, washing hands, putting on nightgowns, and not looking pale symbolize the act of covering up, erasing, and disguising. Therefore we can see that Lady Macbeth is very scared of being convicted of murder.
3) Interestingly, this line can be said to Macbeth after his murder of Duncan and fit right in. This parallelism is very significant in that it shows the fall of Lady Macbeth, especially a mental breakdown. Initially, when I read this part of the script for the first time, I immediately thought of the "monologue" of Golum from the "Lord of the Rings," because I imagined Lady Macbeth to carry out all of the lines in this scene in different voices. We see a several different levels of emotion in her lines and the changes of emotions between lines seem very abrupt. In the old movie version, we saw that the actress carried out the lines in the same vulnerable tone. But I imagined this line to be said in the manner she spoke the lines,
"Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us
And show us to be watchers."
in Act 2. I think that would illustrate the unstableness and fragility of Lady Macbeth's psyche and also the concept of karma that all of her deeds in the end revisit her to torment and to punish her as a consequence.
I. “What’s done is done.” (3.2.14)
This line is delivered by Lady Macbeth after Macbeth killed King Duncan. Macbeth is the king now and has to meet the guests that night. Lady Macbeth is saying this line to Macbeth because Macbeth feels guilty and fear about his murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth needs to have his mind refreshed so she tries to encourage him to think straight and move forward, leaving the past events behind. Lady Macbeth knows that nothing can be done to fix the problem so she is trying to help Macbeth move on with his new position as a king.
“What’s done cannot be undone.” (5.1.71)
This line is delivered by Lady Macbeth again when she is sleep-walking. She is saying this line about the killing that murderers did which cannot be undone. She is saying this line in front of the doctor and gentlewoman who shouldn’t have listened to her because they now knew the dirty story of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This line shows Lady Macbeth is suffering from the problems happening in a fast pace and it is the true feeling that she feels since she is saying the line with no conscious. Lady Macbeth seemed to be a strong figure where she encouraged Macbeth to do the killings but this line shows that she is a weak figure suffering from guiltiness.
In conclusion, Lady Macbeth is suffering from aftereffect of the killing and shows the change of Lady Macbeth’s character since her strong figure is destroyed after the killing. I think she is, too, a human.
a)
“Hell is murky.” (5.1.38)
“Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell…” (1.5.57-58)
Prior to act 1 scene 5, Macbeth has met three witches who call him Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and King hereafter. Because he is already the Thane of Glamis and because Duncan has pronounced him Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth thinks about killing Duncan to become ‘king of hereafter.’ Act 1 scene 5 is when Lady Macbeth enters the scene reading a letter from Macbeth. This letter writes of how he has met the witches and what they have told him. After reading the letter however, Lady Macbeth is worried that her husband is ‘too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.’ This means that Macbeth lacks the ruthlessness to kill Duncan in order to fulfill the witches’ prophecy of becoming ‘king hereafter.’ Therefore, when Lady Macbeth hears from the messenger that Duncan is coming to their place, she calls on the evil spirits to enter her. More specifically, in the line “come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,” she is telling the dark night to cover itself up with the cloth that covers coffins in the darkest smoke of hell. She then tells Macbeth about her plans to murder Duncan.
When Lady Macbeth says this line, she is definitely cruel and evil. Because she knows that Macbeth will not be able to kill Duncan, she is calling on the evil, deadly, spirits to fill her with the strongest cruelty in order to kill Duncan. She wants to feel brave, and manly. All the words she speaks convey a dark and evil tone and mood. She definitely wants to murder Duncan for her husband’s future kingship. It sounds as if she is calling on so much dark spirit that nothing can stop her from murdering Duncan. She doesn’t want anything to stop her nor catch them murdering Duncan.
In act 5 scene 1, Lady Macbeth is being observed by the doctor and the Waiting-Gentlewoman. She is sleep-walking, and reliving the murders she and Macbeth went through. She is continuously washing her hands, which is symbolic and shows baptism. However, even though she keeps on washing her hands of blood, she says that there is still a spot left. This shows that she feels that the crime she and Macbeth has gone through is too big to be cleansed. She in is fear and worried. It also seems that she is in psychological confusion. She cannot rest and her devastation is so big that she cannot even remember the order of the murders that took place. It seems as though she trembles and all the murders she and Macbeth has gone through just all combine and haunt her all together. After she recalls the time striking 2 am just before the murder “one. Two,” she says the line “Hell is murky.” Murky means dark, gloomy. She is haunted and shivers at the though of having to have this eternal gloom and darkness with her. In act 1, she used the word hell with conviction, cruelty, and bravery, but now she uses it with fear. Thus, she definitely shows a change in character. She believes that this murdering has gone too far.
After Macbeth kills Duncan, Macbeth is shocked and does not know what to do. Lady Macbeth instructs him very calmly. As Macduff comes to wake up Duncan and knocks on the door, Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth “Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us and show us to be watchers.” (2.2 90-91) She says this particular line to warn Macbeth to change his clothes into his nightgowns and act like they were sleeping.
Lady Macbeth once again delivers a similar line in act 5 scene1, when she sleepwalks. Lady Macbeth, who seemed to lead Macbeth’s action, now begins to show her guiltiness. She states, “Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. Look not so pale.” The meaning of these lines is similar to that of the previous quote. Lady Macbeth is saying that they should not look so pale because Lady Macbeth and Macbeth need to pretend as if they have nothing to do with what happened to Duncan, Banquo and Macduff’s family.
The way Lady Macbeth delivers her lines is kind of different. In the first line, Lady Macbeth is really confident about what she is doing. She does not feel guilty about killing Duncan because she is only focused on making Macbeth a king. Even when Lady Macbeth delivers the line, she is very calm and determined to hide their acts. However, as she states a similar line in act 5, the way she delivers the message is very different. First, she begins the line by saying “washing your hands.” This shows that she is trying to wash off blood from her hands, but she is unable to because of the guilt she feels.
Also, at the end of the line, she says “look not so pale.” People become pale when they are scared of something. Once again, it is clear that Lady Macbeth is frightened and scared about what Macbeth and she had done to Duncan, Banquo and Macduff’s family.
These two quotes clearly display the change in Lady Macbeth’s personality. The first quote clearly defines Lady Macbeth as a very determined, calm person. Though the message of the second quote is the same as the first one, it seems like Lady Macbeth is more desperate and she is feeling guilty therefore, she wants to get rid of the guiltiness by washing off the blood from her hands. Also, both of the quotes mention “nightgowns.” This term is very interesting because first, it is used to hide their murders, but also it is interesting because the meaning of “sleep” in this particular play. “Nightgown” may be foreshadowing the death of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth
I posted the reponse on my blog before you wrote this post...
E. “What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.45)
“A little water clears us of this deed.
How easy is it, then!” (2.2.86-87)
These two quotes relate to the murder of Duncan. The second quote, which actually comes out first in the story, is said by Lady Macbeth right after Macbeth had killed Duncan. The reader can tell that Lady Macbeth looks at the murder of Duncan as one trivial nuisance standing in the way of Macbeth becoming king and her as queen as she refers to the murder as a “deed.” Lady Macbeth is greedy and wants power. Since Macbeth originally did not want to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth tried to persuade Macbeth and encouraged him to. After finding out that her plans plan to provoke Macbeth into committing the murder worked, Lady Macbeth says theses lines. Additionally, the tone of voice the reader gets is one of insignificance as if the deed is a simple one from the diction. The adjective “little” modifying water and the word “easy” give the reader that feeling.
The first quote, which is technically the second, comes out way towards the end of the book. This quote is said during Lady Macbeth’s sleepwalking and sleep talking. The guilt of the murder finally started to sink in and the reader is able to notice this in her major shift in character. She used to be the “cool” one who was like “what is so hard about killing a man?” However, she is now quite disturbed by the act Macbeth performed, which was instigated by her. This quote is said by Lady Macbeth out loud while she is sleeping and a gentlewoman and doctor are watching. They notice that they heard something they should not have had. When Lady Macbeth asks the question in the quote “will these hands ne’er be clean?,” the reader knows that she is referring to the blood that got on her hand when she took the daggers that killed Duncan back to set up and frame the guards. This question basically contradicts the quote from act 2 because Lady Macbeth originally stated that “a little water [would] clear [her and Macbeth] of [the] deed,” but no amount of water is able to “clean” her hands.
D.
"My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white." (2.2.82-83)
In this line, Lady Macbeth has committed the crime just like Macbeth and became an accomplice. But she says that she doesn't feel bad about what she, or they, did at all, describing her heart "white" which symbolizes purity and innocence, opposite of what she should really feel at that point. Before she put the dagger back to the room, Lady Macbeth criticized Macbeth for being a coward and being timid, so in this incident, she is being more "courageous" than Macbeth and unafraid to commit crime for more power.
When she is saying this line, as I have said, she doesn't feel bad at all and feels almost light-hearted. She, in a way, feels guilty for this light-heartedness because she says it shames her to wear "a heart so white". At this point, she is probably consumed with greed and urgency because someone was knocking on the door while she was delivering these lines to Macbeth. Perhaps she didn't have time to even think back on her crime and feel guilty.
"The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?" (5.1.44-45)
This is when Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and doesn't really know what she's talking about because the doctor and the gentlewoman are there, able to hear things that they're really not supposed to hear. It is revealed what Lady Macbeth has done with Macbeth and the guilt she feels. The doctor and the gentlewoman are worried about her because this guilt consumes her and she is becoming a mad person.
When she is delivering this line, she is aware of the fact that Macduff's family was murdered and this adds greater weight to her guilt. A bit of sarcasm is attached to this line because she is, in a way, asking a rhetorical question "where is she now?" because she perfectly knows that she is dead by then. This guilt that consumes her makes her unable to think clearly and be herself because she thinks that the blood on her hands is not getting off no matter how hard she cleans them, which shows that the guilt that she's feeling is not going away as well, as the blood symbolizes the crime that has been committed and the guilt that she feels. So, contrary to her feelings in Act 2, when she was not feeling bad or guilty at all, she is consumed by guilt in Act 5.
"Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures...if he do bleed I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal..." (2.2.69-70, 71-71)
This quote is by Lady Macbeth after Macbeth has killed King Duncan. When Macbeth comes back with the daggers, Lady Macbeth decides to take part in the murder and even insists that Macbeth complete his mission. She partakes in the murder by taking the dagger back into the room and completing the murder. Here, she’s so confident about killing someone else, she has no fears unlike Macbeth and completes it like a simple task. She is very confident and apathetic about committing a murder at this time of the book.
"A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then?" (2.2.86-87)
Here, Macbeth refuses to stick according to the plan of the murder. However, Lady Macbeth who crazes for power insists that the plan go fine and was willing to go any lengths to complete it which she did. As a result of persistent persuasion, Macbeth decides to assassinate King Duncan and overcome his thrown. Lady Macbeth cravings for power, selfishness and greed fill her mind and captivate her whole motives.
“What, will these hands ne’er be clean?”(5.1 44-45)
This quote comes from the scene where Lady Macbeth is seeing her doctor and she complains about her sleepwalking problem. Lady Macbeth unconsciously narrates the murder of Duncan and Banquo to the doctor and her maid. She talks of how the smell of blood cannot be removed from her hands and nothing even the finest perfume from Arabia could possibly do so. Lady Macbeth begins to feel guilty, more responsible and even sympathetic to her previous crimes and her husband’s hideous acts of greed.
These three quotes show a great contrast of the characterization of Lady Macbeth from the beginning of the play to the end of the play. It is clear that Lady Macbeth is very apathetic and greedy in the early stage because of her strong craving for fame and power. On reaching the end of the play she becomes more sympathetic and remorseful.
“A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!” (2.2.86-87)
After Macbeth kills Duncan, he returns to Lady Macbeth covered in Duncan’s blood. He seems to be extremely unstable at this point; he heard whispers, brought the daggers used to kill Duncan, and refused to return to the crime site to leave the dagger behind. Consequently, Lady Macbeth returns the dagger to the guards in front of Duncan’s room. When she returns, her hands are covered by Duncan’s blood. Then she mentions that she is also a part of this crime, and basically advises Macbeth to toughen up. She said, “A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!” She is confident that this act can be forgotten and cleared easily.
“What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.45)
This quote is from the scene where Doctor and a Gentlewoman observe Lady Macbeth sleeping walking/talking. She mentions about killing of Duncan, Banquo, and the family of Macduff. She seems to live a life full of fear, remorse, and regrets. She is daunted by the fact that she is responsible for many deaths. This particular quote is mentioned when she talks about Duncan’s death. It is when her hands were covered by Duncan’s blood, which was the time she was physically involved with the killings. While she mentions this quote, gentlewoman said, “it is an accustom’d actions with her, to seem thus washing her hands: I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour.” Clearly, Lady Macbeth has been influenced by Duncan’s blood.
Downfall of Lady Macbeth
Before, she had firm belief that when Macbeth kills Duncan, it will all be over. She believed that once the physical evidence is cleaned, she is free from blame. However, she noticed that it is not the case. As mentioned previously, she knows that she is responsible for many deaths. She is daunted by those deaths, and is greatly influenced. Even though she was involved for Duncan’s death, she feels responsible for all the deaths. She lives in fear believing that she started the chain reaction.
E.
What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.45)
“A little water clears us of this deed.
How easy is it, then!” (2.2.86-87)
The transformation of Lady Macbeth observed in this line can be summed up as a nervous breakdown. It is evident that Lady Macbeth has fully realized the treachery she has commited after it was done. The simple notion that the rinsing of physical evidence would wash away the guilt expressed before has truly proven wrong. Clearly, Lady Macbeth is being consumed by the stain of guilt that is metaphysical; her awareness and memory of the deed. She is no longer confident and daring, but rather fragile and disturbed. The word "little," used regarding her hands, magnifying how belittled she is when confronting her guilt. She also no longer acts as the leader in solidifying Macbeth's royalty, rather horrified by the bloodshed it has spurred.
At the same time such a transformation reveals Lady Macbeth as naive; it appears as if she did not expect to be haunted by taking part in a murder. This has definitly been an eye-opening (literally and figuratively) experience for her. In this sense, Lady Macbeth's insanity can be seen as redemptive, for she is realizing what she has done (and feels bad).
I am only a little intimidated by the amount that people have written for this post....
"What's done is done." (3.2.14)
This line is uttered by Lady Macbeth when Macbeth decides to remove Banquo so that he can ensure his throne. Macbeth looks obviously nervous and distressed since Banquo was in fact his loyal friend. Here, Lady Macbeth tries to soothe and calm Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth is delivering the lines with great confidence and tenderness. She's trying to persuade Macbeth that he is doing the right thing and that he should not continue to worry or express concern over his deeds. "What's done is done." She is at the same time determined and firm with him in order to help him move on.
"What's done cannot be undone." (5.1.71)
This is at the end part of the play when Lady Macbeth transforms and starts to sleepwalk. She's completely consumed by guilt and can't stop thinking about the horrifying deeds that she has committed with her husband.
Here, she is evidently traumatized by the experiences from the past. Her voice should embody indifference yet fear. She feels guilty and lost. She has become irrational. In this line, we also sense her being regretful for what she had done by saying "What's done cannot be undone." It's almost as if she wants to go back in time and "undo" everything. At the same time, she is miserable because the past cannot be changed.
“A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!” (2.2.86-87)
Lady Macbeth says this line after Macbeth killed Duncan. She sees Duncan as an obstacle that blocks Macbeth from becoming the king. Her desire for power leads her to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. After finding out that her plans worked perfectly, Lady Macbeth says these lines. Also, the use of diction, like “little” and “easy”, shows that Lady Macbeth does not worry much about this deed because she is confident that this is a perfect crime. She is rather certain that she will easily get over this crime.
“What will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1 44-45)
In this scene, the doctor and the woman watches Lady Macbeth’s habit of talking while sleep walking. She bemoans the crimes that were instigated by her. She claims to see blood spot on her hands and tries to wash it off, but she can’t.
This quote contradicts the previous quote because Lady Macbeth asks, “what, will these hands ne’er be clean?” even though she was so sure before that “a little water clears us of this deed.” The shift shows the contrast in her tone and mood shows the guilt that never erased. Right after the crime, Lady Macbeth acted as if she would forget about this crime and move on. However, she is now disturbed about the fact that she initiated the crime.
Copying & pasting my comments!
D. "My hands are of your color, but I shame To wear a heart so white." (2.2.82-83)
In context, Macbeth had already "done the deed", which was killing Duncan with daggers. Later, he begins to tell her how he was hearing a voice saying, "Sleep no more!...Macbeth shall sleep no more." However, she sees that he had brought the bloody daggers along with him when he returns to Lady Macbeth and she freaks out explaining to him that he'd needed to leave them there so that it would be left as pure evidence. Hence, after calling him a coward and taking the daggers from Macbeth, she says that she'll return them to the house and reaffirm the plan to make paint blood on the servant's faces. Then, Macbeth starts to hear knocking noises and is starting to feel panic as well as fear. This is where Lady Macbeth enters and says, “"My hands are of your color, but I shame To wear a heart so white."
Seeing how Macbeth is reacting to this murder act, Lady Macbeth reassures him that he cannot start to become feeble about what he’s done. He’s reminded to be manly about this situation and to "watch this filthy witness from your hand" as if doing so would truly wash the 'filthiness' from his hands. It is evident that her bold characterization stands out in her lines when she says, “but I shame To wear a heart so white”. The color of Macbeth’s hands that she’s referring to is red because of the blood and so is hers. Yet, she ridicules what seems like Macbeth’s sudden paranoia of everything around him, starting with some simple knocking at the door. She feels that she needs to be so powerful and in control of everything because if can’t, then someone needs to be. She wants Macbeth to want the throne as much as she wants it, and she truly wants it. However, she, as well as Macbeth certainly do not want to leave any white spots that’ll prove them guilty, hence she needs to be extra careful and be very competent of doing things in the correct way without mistakes
"The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?" (5.1.44-45) A gentlewoman and doctor curiously watch and note Lady Macbeth’s actions as she sleepwalks and sleep talks. Lady Macbeth repeatedly washes her hands. This is the action of when she was washing her hands after her and Macbeth had “done the deed”. Later, the doctor concludes, “she needs spiritual aid rather than a physician.”
Lady Macbeth is feeling very frantic. She seems to be as paranoid as Macbeth was after he’d killed Duncan and loathed what he’d done. She’s obviously gone mad as this is evident when the gentlewoman and doctor see her constantly washing her hands in thin air and speaking to herself what she would never tell them in person. She says, “The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?” She is referring to all of their evil deeds and because the security that she needs to feel is so great, her feelings of fear had transcended all her confidence. There is contrast in her characterization as she used to be the one to push Macbeth into this situation (Adam & Eve?). In conclusion, I feel that this idea of how sometimes our fears get the best of us comes into play with this sharp contrast in Lady Macbeth’s characterization from confident to fearful.
“A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!” (2.2.86-87)
Clearly we know that this scene occurs after King Duncan's murder and when Lady Macbeth is trying to ease the guilt of Macbeth of what he has just done. Seeing Macbeth being so paranoid and stressed about his act, Lady Macbeth tries to calm him down and tries to convince him on how everything is going to turn out the way they want it to be.
However, the blood is too thick and has already gone in too deep that water (our daily use for cleansing) cannot even wash off this deed. I think it's just that Lady Macbeth needed some sort of excuse in order to do such a critical task and wanted some reliance of some sort to give her the courage to get her desires.
“What, will these hands ne’er be clean?” (5.1.45)
This is a quote said by Lady Macbeth while she was sleepwalking. The doctor was even there to check up on what was going through her and what might have caused her to do such an act. This quote is significant because this is the first time she has let someone other than her trusted husband know about what they have done. She is giving a huge clue to the doctor that she has been involved in some sort of crime that has to do with blood and murder and that she is petrified that she is going to get caught.
This quote can be related with the first quote in such a way of seeing the transition of Lady Macbeth's character. She was so strong in the beginning, letting her desires take over her actions, however now, she is regretting what she has done and is scared that she might receive the same consequence.
The paired lines from different times in the play but are of similar content show the deterioration of Lady Macbeth's state of mind. Although the paired lines may consist of similar content, the tone and the implication of the words are totally different. By wording the words differently or making small changes, the sentence or phrase can portray a totally different feeling from a similar sentence. The situation she is in and what she says before or after the lines really shows her emotions or state of mind.
I think the pair of lines that demonstrates how a way a sentence is said can change the meaning of a sentence the best is I. "What's done is done" from scene three and "what's done cannot be undone" from act five by Lady Macbeth at the surface both mean the same thing. They both mean that the event that has happened can't be change or taken back. There is no way for the event or deed to be changed to something else or to be taken back.
The first set of lines were said after the murder of Duncan and his attendants. Lady Macbeth says these lines the Macbeth to ease his mind because she feels that Macbeth is distressed. The second set of lines were said by Lady Macbeth when she was sleepwalking. At this point in time, she was much more distressed and her mind had deteriorated a great deal. The two different settings hint to the readers the emotions of Lady Macbeth at the time when she said the lines.
The lines "what's done is done" gives the impression that Lady Macbeth is saying that the deed has happened and can't be changed so they need to move on. She seems to be implying that they need to put the past behind them because of the fact that it can't be changed no matter what. She says these lines to move Macbeth and herself forward without constantly looking at the past and feeling regret. These lines give an impression of the speaker having resolve in moving forward after doing his/her deed. In a sense, the line is basically saying, "I did it, it happened, I can't do anything to change it, so I'm moving on." The line is one with a sort of self proclaimed resolve to move on.
On the other hand, the line "what's done cannot be undone" hints a feeling or regret for doing the deed. The words cannot and undone are used in this line, which give a negative connotation. By using the word cannot, the speaker puts an emphasis on how the deed can't be changed no matter what. By concentrating on the impossibility of changing what has happened, the speaker is able to portray his/her regret in committing the deed. In this case, it's Lady Macbeth regretting what has been done.
The change in her word choice for saying basically the same thing gives evidence that Lady Macbeth's mind has greatly deteriorated along with her personality. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth was the one in control of Macbeth and was the one egging him on to do the evil deed of killing King Duncan. She was the mastermind behind the evil deed. She was the one with great confidence and the one calling on evil spirits to prepare her. However, no matter how tough she appeared on the outside, the death on her hands has had a huge impact on her personality. She becomes haunted by what she has done and her mental state goes downhill. The lines clearly show the significant difference between the beginning and the end. These lines are only one set of evidence to show the change in Lady Macbeth's character.
"Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood, that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll glid the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt." (2.2.53-57)
This quote of Lady Macbeth shows her boldness in saying their is no need to be afraid of the scene. "but as pictures" line shows that they have no reality and are not terrifying. Even though Macbeth was all terrified from murder and blood that he have seen, Lady Macbeth is full of might and readiness to carry her plans. Also, it is shown in (2.2.86-87)"A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then!" This shows that their guilt will be forsakened as we wash our hands in clear water. But was it so?Later in the play, Lady Macbeth struggles to remove stains of "blood" from her hand, which clearly shows her decline.
"More needs she the divine than the physician. God, God forgive us all!... My mind she has mated and amaz'd my sight.." (5.1.70-77) These lines demonstrates that Lady Macbeth is declining mentally and physically as the doctor show us that curing her sleepwalking is not his job, but priest's job.
"Wash your hands, put on your night gown, look not so pale: I tell you yet again Banquo's buried; he cannot come out on's grave." (5.1.60-64). This quote demonstrates Lady Macbeth's struggle to relinquish herself from her guilt. She wants to clean her hands, but not even every Arabian perfumes will not conceal her "blood." What she had done will never be forsaken.
Mrs. Lav, I thought we had to post our responses on our blogs.. So I posted mine on my blog :)
I.
"What's done cannot be undone." (5.1.71)
"What's done is done." (3.2.14)
When Lady Macbeth says "What's done is done." in the third act after Duncan's death it is obvious how she seems to feel towards the ex-king's death. She wants to make MacBeth realize that there is no longer any need for fretting because he had already committed the act. She also is making herself realize that there is no need to worry, because this is after she sees Duncan's body and becomes anxious.
When she goes back to each death in her mind and on her transformation of MacBeth in the sleep walking scene in act V she is obviously feeling quite different. When she says "What's done cannot be undone." she is having doubts that what they did was proper. Also she knows that MacBeth truly is a killer because he has killed more than just Duncan (a man who in her mind deserved it.) She says that it cannot be undone in order to point out that there is regret for taking part it what has occurred, this is in comparison to her noncommittal line of what's done is done.
"A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then!"
Basically what happens here is after Macbeth kills Duncan, he is covered with blood. He returns with the knives that he killed Duncan with and acts like a coward and refuses to place them with the guards. Lady Macbeth is forced to go back to the scene of the crime to cover up for Macbeth. After her return, she is also covered with blood. Here Lady Macbeth says that all they have to do is wash their hands and it would be as if they had never done anything and they would forget about this and live happily ever after as king and queen.
"What, will these hands ne'er be clean?"
Lady Macbeth says this while she is sleepwalking with the Doctor and the maid observing her. She says this because she is stricken with guilt at how much blood that has been spilt because of her even though she did not directly murder people. The spots of blood do not go away because the blood she has spilt cannot be forgiven nor can they be forgotten. This is such a drastic change from what Lady Macbeth said in Act 2 because then, she was strong and now she is weak.
"My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white." (2.2.82-83)
This line is where Macbeth's deed of killing Duncan was just done. Here, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are a bit dazzled and confused, but Lady Macbeth was the one who reminded Macbeth of the importance of the carrying out of the deed. After the murdur, Lady Macbeth feels guilt and says, "I shame to wear a heart so white." This line reveals that Lady Macbeth already feels like a spoiled person, with terrible guilt behind. I thought this line is the starting point of Lady Macbeth's decline. Therefore I considered this line to be significant.
"The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?" (5.1.44-45)
This line is also significant in revealing Lady Macbeth's decline, since it is where Lady Macbeth informs the doctor of the murder and says, "The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean?" This line was impressive, because it clearly shows the emotional unstableness of Lady Macbeth so explicitly. By saying "where is she now?" I thought Lady Macbeth is suggesting that she has now lost her identity as a noble woman, the wife of a thane. As a result, I thought this pair of lines was significant because it shows the starting point of Lady Macbeth's decline and the loss of identity of Lady Macbeth as well.
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