weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king”. Furthermore such a negative portrayal of Elizabeth I, would prove popular with James, whose mother was imprisoned and executed by Elizabeth to solidify her claim to the throne. “Come to my woman's breasts, The juxtaposition of Lady Act 1 The desire to lose womanly Gothic (transgression), power, And take my milk for gall,” “milk” and “gall” Macbeth scene 5 virtues and take on violent occult, gender, emphasise the virtues expected only from gender role reversal men would go against the that Lady Macbeth Shakespearean gender desires. expectations where women were expected to be nurturing and caring. The refuting of nurturing qualities could allude to Elizabeth I who was childless and therefore showed no mothering qualities. “you murdering ministers, The alliterative “m” Lady Act 1 The desire to lose womanly Gothic (transgression), power, Wherever in your sightless sounds and sibilant Macbeth scene 5 virtues and take on violent occult, gender, substances” “sightless substances” virtues expected only from both connote sexual men would go against the desire, revealing the Shakespearean gender excitement of Lady expectations where Macbeth as she women were expected to delivers her be nurturing and caring. incantantion. “look like the innocent flower, The juxtaposition of Lady Act 1 The reference to “flower” Gothic (transgression), power But be the serpent under't.” “innocent flower” Macbeth scene 5 and “serpent” is apt as the and prelapsarian Dutch government in 1606 “serpent” emphasises produced a coin in the deviousness of celebration of the foiling of Lady Macbeth’s the gunpowder plot in intended plan. England (where Guy Fawkes attempted to overthrow the
weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king”. Furthermore such a negative portrayal of Elizabeth I, would prove popular with James, whose mother was imprisoned and executed by Elizabeth to solidify her claim to the throne. “Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall,” The juxtaposition of “milk” and “gall” emphasise the gender role reversal that Lady Macbeth desires. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 5 The desire to lose womanly virtues and take on violent virtues expected only from men would go against the Shakespearean gender expectations where women were expected to be nurturing and caring. The refuting of nurturing qualities could allude to Elizabeth I who was childless and therefore showed no mothering qualities. Gothic (transgression), power, occult, gender, “you murdering ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances” The alliterative “m” sounds and sibilant “sightless substances” both connote sexual desire, revealing the excitement of Lady Macbeth as she delivers her incantantion. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 5 The desire to lose womanly virtues and take on violent virtues expected only from men would go against the Shakespearean gender expectations where women were expected to be nurturing and caring. Gothic (transgression), power, occult, gender, “look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't.” The juxtaposition of “innocent flower” and prelapsarian “serpent” emphasises the deviousness of Lady Macbeth’s intended plan. Lady Macbeth Act 1 scene 5 The reference to “flower” and “serpent” is apt as the Dutch government in 1606 produced a coin in celebration of the foiling of the gunpowder plot in England (where Guy Fawkes attempted to overthrow the Gothic (transgression), power