The phrase "too full o' the milk of human kindness" comes from Shakespeare's "Macbeth," where it describes someone who is overly compassionate or gentle, to the point of being weak or indecisive. In the context of the play, it refers to Macbeth's initial reluctance to commit regicide despite his ambition. This expression highlights the tension between moral integrity and the ruthless pursuit of power. Ultimately, it suggests that excessive kindness can hinder one's ability to achieve their goals.
The milk of human kindness.
He is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.
It is apparently too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Or so she says.
He is "too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way."
Lady M. fears that her husband is "too full of the milk of human kindness," that he is too sensitive and ethical to kill for the sake of gaining power. She believes that when faced with the task of killing the king to usurp his power, M's moral compass will steer him away from the deed.
Lady Macbeth
We need to know which speech you are talking about. Are you talking about "thy nature . . . is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way"? If so, it's not hard to see what she is thinking.
In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth refers to her husband as "too full o' the milk of human kindness" and worries that he lacks the necessary ruthlessness to seize the throne. She believes he is too weak and gentle to carry out the murderous actions needed to fulfill their ambitions.
Well, just kindness basically. Lady Macbeth thinks her husband is "too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way" which means that he's too nice a guy to go around murdering people. Her assessment of him is correct as it turns out. The association of "milk" with kindness gives a suggestion of cowardice, as white was a colour associated with lack of courage (see "lily-livered" for example.)
No. She thinks he is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. But Macbeth's hesitation comes from caution, not kindness. Lady Macbeth is projecting her own feelings onto Macbeth--she will later say that "if he had not resembled my father as he slept, I'd ha' done it", showing that she is the one who is deterred by the "milk of human kindness". Macbeth, on the other hand, is deterred by his anticipation of the consequences of the murder. It is thoughts, not feelings, that are holding him back.
Lady Macbeth is expressing concern that her husband, Macbeth, is too kind-hearted to seize power. She worries that his compassionate nature will prevent him from taking the necessary ruthless actions to become king. She believes he needs to overcome his "milk of human kindness" to fulfill his ambition.
One notable example of assonance in Macbeth is found in Act 1, Scene 5, when Lady Macbeth says: "I fear thy nature. It is too full o' the milk of human kindness." Here, the repetition of the short 'i' sound in "milk" and "kindness" creates an assonant effect.