Act 1, Scene 5 Act 1, Scene 5 Summary The next scene takes place in Macbeth's castle in Inverness, where Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from Macbeth. The letter recounts his encounter with the three "weird sisters" and the prophecy of his ensuing Kingship. He wishes her to share in his rejoicing, referring to her as "my dearest partner of greatness." She, in soliloquy, conveys her fear that Macbeth is too soft, too filled with "the milk of human kindness" to do the things he must do to fulfill the prophecy. She waits eagerly to advise him as to his course now the Fates have stepped in to prepare his for his glorious crown. Hearing that Duncan will arrive in her castle after Macbeth, she invokes the forces of darkness to prepare her for a murderous intrigue against the King that will accelerate her husband to the throne. Macbeth now comes. She tells him- play the innocent before Duncan, but underneath retain the serpent's cunning. She tells him to leave everything else to her. Act 1, Scene 5 Analysis Before, Macbeth's ambition had been aimless. Though there are obstacles offered to him by Duncan's passage of the throne to his eldest, Malcolm, he makes no plot or calculation. His wife, hearing the news, decides that she will drive him to his destiny, to assume the throne and fulfill the prophecy; namely, murder. He says little regarding her offer to him and we are unsure if he will take this dark step to fulfill his "black and deep desire." Lady Macbeth is the very personification of warped, murderous ambition.
Act 1, Scene 5 Act 1, Scene 5 Summary The next scene takes place in Macbeth's castle in Inverness, where Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from Macbeth. The letter recounts his encounter with the three "weird sisters" and the prophecy of his ensuing Kingship. He wishes her to share in his rejoicing, referring to her as "my dearest partner of greatness." She, in soliloquy, conveys her fear that Macbeth is too soft, too filled with "the milk of human kindness" to do the things he must do to fulfill the prophecy. She waits eagerly to advise him as to his course now the Fates have stepped in to prepare his for his glorious crown. Hearing that Duncan will arrive in her castle after Macbeth, she invokes the forces of darkness to prepare her for a murderous intrigue against the King that will accelerate her husband to the throne. Macbeth now comes. She tells him- play the innocent before Duncan, but underneath retain the serpent's cunning. She tells him to leave everything else to her. Act 1, Scene 5 Analysis Before, Macbeth's ambition had been aimless. Though there are obstacles offered to him by Duncan's passage of the throne to his eldest, Malcolm, he makes no plot or calculation. His wife, hearing the news, decides that she will drive him to his destiny, to assume the throne and fulfill the prophecy; namely, murder. He says little regarding her offer to him and we are unsure if he will take this dark step to fulfill his "black and deep desire." Lady Macbeth is the very personification of warped, murderous ambition.