Question

name:date:period:#7act/scene: act i/ scene 5 ln. 40quotation/passage: \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! make thick my blood; stop up the access and passage to remorse.\ - lady macbethquestions: what theme does this passage reveal? what does lady macbeth want to be able to do? in what ways is gender/masculinity a theme?#8act/scene: act i/ scene 5 ln. 64quotation/passage: \look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent undert. he thats coming must be provided for.\ - lady macbethquestions: what is lady macbeth asking macbeth to do when he is in the presence of duncan and others? how does she interact with duncan?#9act/scene: act i/ scene 7 ln. 1-28quotation/passage: \if it were done when tis done, then twere well it were done quickly... hes here in double trust: first as i am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself...i have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which oerleaps itself and falls on the other.\—macbeth (soliloquy)questions: what is macbeth struggling with? what triple relationship with duncan does macbeth have? what does he finally decide? why?#10act/scene: act i/ scene 7 ln. 32quotation/passage: \we will proceed no further in this business. he hath honored me of late, and i have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people.\questions: of what \business\ is macbeth speaking? who is the \he\ to whom macbeth is referring?#11act/scene: act i/ scene 7 ln. 49-59quotation/passage: \when you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man ... i have given suck, and know how tender tis to love the babe that milks me. i would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had i so sworn as you have done to this.\—lady macbethquestions: what is lady macbeth questioning of macbeth in order to encourage him to act?#12act/scene: act i/ scene 7 ln. 79quotation/passage: i am settled and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. away, and mock the time with fairest show; false face must hide what the false heart doth know.—macbethquestions: what has macbeth finally decided to do at the end of act i?

Explanation:

For #7:

The passage centers on the theme of gender and ambition. Lady Macbeth begs spirits to strip her of feminine traits associated with remorse and compassion, so she can be cruel enough to help carry out Duncan's murder. Masculinity is framed as being ruthless and unfeeling, something she seeks to embody to achieve power.

For #8:

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to appear warm, innocent, and welcoming to Duncan and others (like a "innocent flower") while hiding his murderous plans (the "serpent" underneath). She does not interact directly with Duncan here; instead, she manipulates Macbeth to be the charming host while plotting Duncan's death.

For #9:

Macbeth struggles with guilt and moral conflict over killing Duncan. His triple relationship to Duncan is: 1) Duncan's kinsman, 2) Duncan's loyal subject, 3) Duncan's host (who must protect him, not harm him). He initially decides not to kill Duncan, because he feels bound by these loyalties and fears the consequences of his ambition.

For #10:

Macbeth is speaking about the planned murder of King Duncan. The "he" refers to King Duncan, who has recently honored Macbeth and made him respected by others.

For #11:

Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth's masculinity, taunting him that he is not a real man if he refuses to follow through on the murder he swore to do. She uses her own hypothetical act of killing her nursing child to show she would keep a promise, shaming him into action.

For #12:

Macbeth finally decides to fully commit to murdering King Duncan. He resolves to put on a false, friendly appearance to hide his true murderous intentions.

Answer:

#7

• Theme: Gender, ambition, and moral corruption.
• Lady Macbeth wants to be stripped of feminine compassion/remorse to act cruelly.
• Gender/masculinity is framed as ruthless, unfeeling strength tied to ambition.

#8

• She tells Macbeth to look innocent/welcoming while hiding his murderous plans.
• She does not interact with Duncan here; she manipulates Macbeth to act as the gracious host.

#9

• Macbeth struggles with moral guilt and conflicting loyalties.
• Triple relationship: Kinsman, loyal subject, and host to Duncan.
• He initially decides not to kill Duncan, due to loyalty and fear of consequences.

#10

• "Business" is the planned murder of King Duncan.
• "He" refers to King Duncan.

#11

• She questions Macbeth's masculinity, shaming him into following through on the murder by claiming he is not a man if he breaks his promise.

#12

• Macbeth finally decides to murder King Duncan, and to hide his true intentions behind a friendly, innocent facade.