If you are dutiful, you fulfil your duty. You do this with obedience and devotion.

If you are conventional, you follow accepted norms or standards.

If you are unconventional, you do not follow accepted norms or standards.

Being an outsider is an important idea, particularly to Shakespeare. An outsider is a character who is not accepted by society.

The status quo is the term for accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.

Exploring the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1, ‘Macbeth’

English

In 'Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian Villain', pupils focus on the role that Lady Macbeth plays in the downfall of her husband. In 'Macbeth: A Tragic Hero', pupils become more critical of Macbeth's own decisions, evaluating whether he could be considered a tragic hero.

In 'Othello', pupils explore the role that Desdemona played in her husband's downfall. In 'Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian Villain', pupils analyse the impact of Lady Macbeth's manipulation.

In this unit, pupils read and analyse 'Macbeth' by focusing on the role of Lady Macbeth in the tragedy. They start by reading the full play, before moving on to a close analysis of key characters and themes. They then zoom in on Lady Macbeth and develop an essay on her as a Machiaevellian villain.

Shakespeare: first reading

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Which of the following were common expectations of Jacobean women?

She pretends to be a dutiful wife to Macbeth.

She pretends to be a dutiful subject to King Duncan.

She seeks power for her husband, not herself.

In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', in what ways does Lady Macbeth reinforce the status quo?

'Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter'

'I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me'

'yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness'

'Art not without ambition, But without the illness that attends it'

In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', which quotations show Lady Macbeth's detailed knowledge of her husband? 

Lady Macbeth dominates the dialogue in 1.7.

The witches seem to predict, perhaps control, the future.

The witches have no place in society: they are outsiders.

Lady Macbeth seeks power for her husband, not for herself.

Lady Macbeth has to be a dutiful subject to King Duncan.

We could interpret the female characters in 'Macbeth' as powerful or powerless. For each plot point in the play, decide whether this presents the female character as powerful or powerless.

After hearing about the witches, Lady Macbeth wants to be one.

Lady Macbeth feels that she is powerless unless she rejects her femininity.

She wants to be unnaturally powerful so she can commit an unnatural act.

In Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth asks 'spirits' to 'unsex me here'. Which of the following could be accurate inferences about this quotation?

She promised Macbeth she would do this to prove her love.

She wants to do this, worried that her child will become King.

She is using the image to describe her devotion to Macbeth.

She is explaining how and why she killed their child.

She is describing how she will kill their future child.

In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', why does Lady Macbeth say she would have 'dash'd' her child's brains to the floor whilst breast-feeding?

Lady Macbeth reading a letter about the prophecies.

The don't adhere to common expectations of Jacobean women.

They conform to supernatural stereotypes.

They want to meet Macbeth, an important Thane.

In 'Macbeth', why might the witches be considered outsiders?

In his letter to Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth calls her his 'dearest {{ }} of greatness'.

The {{ }} is the term for the accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.

Lady Macbeth has detailed knowledge of Macbeth's strengths and weaknesses.

Macbeth sends Lady Macbeth a letter as soon as he hears about the prophecies.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss the child they once had.

Arguably, in Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', the Macbeths are presented as having a strong relationship. Which statements best support this argument?

'Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both'

'look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't.'

'When you durst do it, then you were a man'

In 'Macbeth', which quotation best shows Lady Macbeth's support for her husband's ambition to be King of Scotland?

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Adult supervision recommended

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