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Year 10
AQA

The presentation of Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 of ‘Macbeth’

I can explore how Lady Macbeth is presented in Act 1, Scene 5 of ‘Macbeth’.

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New
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Year 10
AQA

The presentation of Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 of ‘Macbeth’

I can explore how Lady Macbeth is presented in Act 1, Scene 5 of ‘Macbeth’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Lady Macbeth's behaviour subverts expectations of Jacobean women
  2. Lady Macbeth summons demonic spirits to 'unsex her’ and allow her to become powerful
  3. Lady Macbeth doubts Macbeth's abilities
  4. Lady Macbeth is willing to go to extremes for what she wants
  5. Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to be deceptive in his quest to become King

Common misconception

Lady Macbeth's 'unsex me' here means she wants to be a man.

Whilst she might want some masculine qualities, there are more implications to this. She could be calling for supernatural qualities too.

Keywords

  • Ambitious - If you are ambitious, you are determined to succeed in an area of aspect of your life.

  • Deception - Deception is the means by which you lead someone to believe something that is not true.

  • Chaste - To be chaste can mean not having any sexual desire or intentions.

  • Unwavering - If you are unwavering, you don't stop until you complete something. You are determined.

  • Plotting - Plotting is when, in secret, you plan to do something bad.

When looking at Lady Macbeth's immediate reactions in LC1, you could compare her reaction to Macbeth's which is arguably more tentative. By contrast, Lady Macbeth immediately launches into actions - 'pour my spirits', 'unsex me'.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', what do the witches tell Banquo?
That he will be king.
Correct answer: That his children will be kings.
That Macbeth will murder him.
That Duncan is not the rightful king.
Q2.
Jacobeans believed that a monarch was selected and appointed by God. Then, to challenge the monarch was to challenge which things?
Correct answer: the natural order
regicide
Correct answer: the hierarchy
Correct answer: God
Q3.
Which of the following would define a woman as a threat to the natural order in Jacobean England?
Correct answer: If they were disobedient.
If they had children.
Correct answer: If they sought equality with men.
If they were married.
Q4.
A is a system or ranking whereby things are ordered, with some being above and some below.
Correct Answer: hierarchy
Q5.
In 'Macbeth', which action shows Macbeth no longer trusts Banquo?
Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth to arrange Banquo's murder.
Macbeth asks the witches to kill him.
Macbeth banishes him and his family from Scotland.
Macbeth never speaks to him again after the witches' prophecies.
Correct answer: Macbeth has Banquo killed.
Q6.
After hearing the prophecies in Act 1 of 'Macbeth', what is Macbeth's first action?
He kills King Duncan.
He tries to find the witches again.
He kills Banquo.
Correct answer: He sends a letter to his wife telling her the news.
He banishes the thought of being king from his mind.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following was a common expectation of married Jacobean women?
That they should work and earn money in order to keep a good household.
Correct answer: That they should have children and nourish them physically and spiritually.
That they should conform to their own rules.
Correct answer: That they should conform to the rules of the Jacobean hierarchy.
Correct answer: That they should be chaste and obedient.
Q2.
Academic Suzanne Hull compiled a book in 1983, the title of which summarises the advice that Jacobean women were given about conduct and expectations. It is called 'Chaste, Silent and '.
Correct Answer: Obedient, obedient
Q3.
Which word best describes Lady Macbeth's ambition to be queen in Act 1 of 'Macbeth'?
chaste
plotting
Correct answer: unwavering
deception
ambitious
Q4.
What are the most specific explanations of this quotation, said by Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth': 'Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be. What thou art promised:'
The noun 'promised' shows Lady Macbeth's desire to completely trust the witches.
The words show that Lady Macbeth is very ambitious.
The words 'thou' are repeated showing her focus on Macbeth.
Correct answer: The verb 'shalt be' shows Lady Macbeth's certainty in the future.
Correct answer: The verb 'promised' shows Lady Macbeth's desire to completely trust the witches.
Q5.
In Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to 'look like the innocent flower, but be the under't'.
Correct Answer: serpent
Q6.
How does Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth' end?
Macbeth advises his wife to 'leave' all the plotting to him.
Correct answer: Lady Macbeth advises her husband to 'leave' the plotting to her.
Macbeth is determined to kill King Duncan.
The Macbeths plan how to kill King Duncan together.