What does Lady Macbeth's monologue in Act I Scene 5 tell us about her character?

Answer 1

In Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth [b. c. 1015] received a letter from her husband [c. 1014-August 15, 1057]. The letter gave her notice of King Duncan I's [d. August 14, 1040] last-minute decision to stay at the Macbeth's home in Inverness Castle. It also told of the noble and royal future that the three witches had predicted for the Macbeths. Lady Macbeth was more concerned about the second bit of news than the first. That greater interest opened up the flood gates to the ambitious, duplicitous, hypocritical, ruthless, scheming, unscrupulous aspects of her personality. She immediately considered foul means over fair in grabbing the throne of Scotland for her and her husband.

Answer 2

It depends what your model of the ideal woman is. She certainly knows her own mind, is not subservient to her husband, is forthright and outspoken to him, but also knows how to be courteous and use good manners. In short, she has many of the virtues which have been extolled as those of a modern woman.

Answer 3

Lady Macbeth's monologue reveals her ambitious and manipulative nature. She desires power and is willing to do anything, including persuading her husband to murder King Duncan, to achieve it. She shows a strong and ruthless personality that drives her to take control and manipulate events to her advantage.

Answer 4

Lady Macbeth is Macbeth's wife. She persuades him to kill the king so that she can become queen, then kills herself out of guilt.

Answer 5

She is ruthless; she is prepared to do wrong to get what she wants.