Act 1, Scene 5 Summary

Characters: Lady Macbeth, a Messenger, Macbeth

Location: Macbeth’s castle in Inverness.

Events: Lady Macbeth recieves a letter from her husband, Macbeth. The letter talks about Macbeth’s encounter with the supernatural Witches and their prediction that he will become King. Macbeth has come home unexpentantly and brings Duncan with him. Lady Macbeth believes that her husband is too kind to kill King Duncan, so she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Lady Macbeth’s speech: Lady Macbeth speaks of the great news she has just recieved, although she takes a dark perspective on all of this. She believes the only way her husband may become King is if the current King (Duncan, Macbeth’s own blood) is killed. She calls upon evil spirits to help her and fill her “from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty!”. 

Quote/s: “Only look up clear: To alter favour ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me.”

“…unsex me here, And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full Of direst cruelty!”