Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth describing his meeting with the witches and their prophecies. [1] The letter promises Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and then king, fulfilling the witches' predictions. [2] Lady Macbeth is excited and ambitious, but also fears Macbeth's nature is "too full o' the milk of human kindness" to achieve the throne through violent means. [3] She vows to pour her "spirits" into Macbeth and encourage him to seize the crown, no matter what obstacles stand in their way. [4]

1. Year 10 English - Macbeth
Language and Character study: Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Sc V
SCENE V. Inverness. Macbeth's castle.
Enter LADY MACBETH, reading a letter
LADY MACBETH
'They met me in the day of success: and I have
learned by the perfectest report, they have more in
them than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire
to question them further, they made themselves air,
into which they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in
the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who 1. This part of LM’s speech is reading aloud a
all-hailed me 'Thane of Cawdor;' by which title, letter from Macbeth – why do you think
before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred Shakespeare decided to include this? What
me to the coming on of time, with 'Hail, king that effect does it have?
shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver
thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou
mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being 2. What has Macbeth been promised?
ignorant of what greatness is promised thee. Lay it Think of two words that describe LM’s
to thy heart, and farewell.' mood at this point.
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be
What thou art promised: yet do I fear thy nature; 2. What does LM fear? Why? What is
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness she exaggerating here?
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it: what thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, 3. What does this line suggest about
And yet wouldst wrongly win: thou'ldst have, great Glamis, LM’s feelings for Macbeth?
That which cries 'Thus thou must do, if thou have it;
And that which rather thou dost fear to do
Than wishest should be undone.' Hie thee hither,
4. What is LM saying she
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;
will do to support Macbeth?
And chastise with the valour of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem 5. LM clearly believes in the
To have thee crown'd withal. supernatural and ‘fate’. Who or what
does she mean by this phrase and
how important do you think this
belief is in her decision making?
Paragraph response
Describe how Lady Macbeth reacts to the news of the witches’ first prophecy to Macbeth. Do you
think she reacts in a way every wife/partner would or is this a stereotype?