# Scene V explained — Macbeth

> Chapter companion for Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/macbeth_se/chapters