Macbeth · Chapter
Scene V explained
Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth detailing the witches' prophecies and learns that King Duncan is coming to stay at their castle that very night.
What happens
Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth detailing the witches' prophecies and learns that King Duncan is coming to stay at their castle that very night. She resolves to overcome Macbeth's merciful nature and calls upon dark spirits to fill her with cruelty, plotting Duncan's murder. When Macbeth arrives, she urges him to hide his intentions and leave the plan to her.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Power
Lady Macbeth's ambition drives her to plot Duncan's murder to fulfill the prophecy and seize the crown.
Appearance vs. Reality
Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to 'look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't,' emphasizing deception.
Supernatural and Evil
Lady Macbeth calls upon dark spirits to 'unsex' her and fill her with cruelty, invoking supernatural evil.
Characters to notice
- Lady Macbeth
Reads Macbeth's letter, resolves to push him to murder, and invokes spirits to 'unsex' her and fill her with cruelty.
- Macbeth
Arrives at Inverness and informs Lady Macbeth that Duncan is coming; he is hesitant but agrees to speak further about the plan.
- King Duncan
Mentioned as arriving at Inverness that night, making him the target of Lady Macbeth's murder plot.
- Messenger
Brings news of Duncan's imminent arrival to Lady Macbeth.
Key passages
“Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way”
I worry that your nature is too gentle to take the quickest path to power.
Lady Macbeth expresses doubt about Macbeth's willingness to commit murder.
“Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty!”
Come, spirits that influence deadly thoughts, strip me of my femininity and fill me completely with cruelty.
Lady Macbeth invokes supernatural forces to harden her resolve for murder.
“Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't.”
Appear harmless and pure, but be cunning and dangerous underneath.
Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to hide his true intentions behind a facade of innocence.