The Letter in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

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The Letter in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Lady Macbeth's reaction when she reads her husband's letter is

powerful and dramatic.

· As soon as she's finished reading, she has decided she will make

sure Macbeth is king

It's as if she and her husband are thinking exactly the same thing.

She does not hesitate for a moment.

· Lady Macbeth invites the spirits of evil to enter her

She knows she has to steel herself, that the murder will need evil

power, and evil is not naturally within her.

· She knows immediately that murdering Duncan is the only way of

quickly achieving her goal

When Macbeth brings further news that Duncan is actually coming to

spend that night with them, it becomes clear that her role is to seize

the moment and facilitate her husband's rise to kingship.

. Before the murder (Act 1, Scene 7)

How does Lady Macbeth persuade her husband to kill Duncan when he does

not want to?

Lady Macbeth uses different methods to persuade Macbeth to change his

mind. Which one really affected Macbeth?

· She says it was his idea first

This is her opening line - simply pointing out that he raised the idea

first.

She taunts Macbeth's masculinity - calling him a coward

This is an important part of her approach. Macbeth's rank and fame

depend on his courage and bravery

· She says he cannot love her

This personal taunt really hits home for Macbeth. It is unexpected

because their relationship is so intense.

These three points lead on to the following question:

Why does Lady Macbeth say she would kill their child?

Lady Macbeth has lost a child when it was very young. It's really...

... middle of paper ...

... when two seemingly impossible

things occur.

Meanwhile, the English army has reached Birnam Wood, and in order to

disguise their numbers, Malcolm instructs each man to cut a branch

from a tree and hold it in front of him as they march on Dunsinane.

Witnessing this, Macbeth's servant reports that he has seen something

impossible Birnam Wood seems to be moving toward the castle. Macbeth

is shaken but goes out to fight nonetheless. During the battle outside

the castle walls, Macbeth kills Young Siward, the English general's

brave son. Macduff then challenges Macbeth. As they fight, Macduff

reveals that he was not "born of woman" but was "untimely ripped" from

his mother's womb. Macbeth is stunned but refuses to yield to Macduff.

Macduff kills him and cuts off his head. Malcolm is proclaimed the new

king of Scotland.

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