Friday, August 5, 2011

Is there a list of quotes that Lady Macbeth said that shows she was planning to kill King Duncan?

There are many quotes that reveal Lady Macbeth's murderous intentions as she plots with Macbeth.  I will list and explain a few of them below.


"The raven himself is hoarse / that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan /  Under my battlements." (I,v)  


By using the image of the raven, a bird of prey, and the word "fatal" to refer to Duncan's visit, Lady Macbeth is implying that he will be killed.

"O, never / Shall sun that morrow see!" (I, vi) 


After Macbeth informs his wife that Duncan plans to spend the night at the castle and leave the next day, Lady Macbeth's lines indicate that Duncan will not be waking up at all.

"What cannot you and I perform upon /  Th’ unguarded Duncan?" (I, vii)

Lady Macbeth has recounted her plan to drug the guards so that Duncan will be without protection.  Notice that this quote comes close to explicitly revealing the murder, but she phrases it as a question to her husband. This question form makes the intention of murder more implied than overt.
  

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