Key Quotes and Character Analysis
Lady Macbeth's most famous speech begins with 'Come, you spirits' - she's literally calling on supernatural forces to help her commit murder. This connects her directly to the witches and supernatural themes that run throughout the play.
Her plea to 'unsex me here' reveals how she views her femininity as weakness. She wants to strip away her feminine qualities like compassion and nurturing, believing these will prevent her from being ruthless enough for murder. She even asks to 'take my milk for gall' - replacing maternal instincts with bitter poison.
The 'raven himself is hoarse' reference shows Lady Macbeth already seeing Duncan's death as inevitable. Ravens symbolise death and prophecy, further linking her to the supernatural world of the witches.
Shakespeare deliberately makes Lady Macbeth the dominant partner in this scene, which would have shocked both Jacobean audiences and the characters themselves. In a world where men were expected to lead, she becomes the mastermind whilst Macbeth follows her commands.
Character Insight: Lady Macbeth's supernatural language and immediate shift to murder plots establish her as equally dangerous to the witches - perhaps even more so because she's human.