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He's talking about mental health. He was not trained to deal with people with mental problems like Lady Macbeth. "Minister to" means to help or care for; he says "therein the patient must help himself", the meaning of which must be clear.

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Q: What does the doctor mean when he says therein the patient must minister to himself in Macbeth?
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What illness has struck lady Macbeth in act 5?

The doctor recognizes that Lady Macbeth's problems are mental, not physical, and that psychiatric science had not advanced so far that he could treat it. He cannot "minister to a mind diseas'd"; "therein the patient must minister to himself."


What do these lines suggest about the beliefs of the time in which The Tragedy of Macbeth was written?

People believed that all witches were women, therefore if they are witches they "should be women". Actually that belief has not changed much.


Why were doctor and gentlewomen watching Lady Macbeth in Macbeth act 5?

Macbeth was worried about Lady Macbeth because she had begun sleepwalking. Because of this development, he called for the doctor to check on her. The gentlewoman was the woman who attended on Lady Macbeth, and who showed the doctor where she could be found at night. Both watch the sleepwalking scene. Later, the doctor reports his findings to Macbeth. "She is troubled by thick-coming fancies that keep her from her rest." But he tells Macbeth that there is no medical answer for her problem; "Therein the patient must minister to himself."


Describe Macbeth's first meeting with the witches?

The first meeting of Macbeth and the three witches serve as an important element for the play and it is from there that Macbeth's decline starts.In fact the third prophecy acts as an instigator for Macbeth and that leads to his downfall.The super hero Macbeth turns into a weakling only after this.It is here that the seeds of overambition gets hold of Macbeth.Had it not been for this meeting Macbeth itself wont be thereIn Shakespeare's Macbeth, the meeting between Macbeth and the three witches serves as the catalyst for the drama. The witches introduce the idea of his being king to Macbeth, or at least make the idea concrete for him. They put fate or destiny on his side.In other words, it is possible that Macbeth had entertained thoughts of being king before he meets the witches. It may even be likely, though there is no concrete or absolute evidence of this. But the witches give him corroboration for his thoughts, if he was having them, and, more importantly, tell him that it is his destiny to be king. That's all Macbeth, and his wife, for that matter, need to begin devising a plan and putting it into action. And this plan, of course, involves killing the present king.The meeting, in foul weather and filled with mysteries (the weird sisters seem to vanish, for example), also furthers the themes of appearance and reality and fair and foul. Throughout the play, people and circumstances are often not as they seem. The theme of the supernatural is also furthered.The problem Macbeth has throughout the play with Banquo is developed here, too--since Banquo is present, he knows the predictions made by the witches, and will therefore naturally suspect Macbeth of treachery when Duncan is killed. And Macbeth knows it. This makes Banquo a threat to him, which will lead Macbeth to order his killing, which leads more and more people to suspect Macbeth.


How does lady Macbeth convince Macbeth to murder duncan?

By questioning his manhood. She references a previous agreement that they made to kill Duncan, but Macbeth tries to back out of it and she in turn pretty much asks him if he is a man or not. She says that he promised to kill him and he didn't and a real man keeps his promises. All of these things questioning Macbeth's manhood and he eventually gives in. This is a common theme in all of Shakespeare.

Related questions

What does the doctor means when he says therein the patient must minister to himself?

In that area, the patient has to take on the care. For instance, with respect to diet and exercise, the physician has no control over the patient's behavior.


What does the doctor mean when he says therein the patient must minister to himself?

In that area, the patient has to take on the care. For instance, with respect to diet and exercise, the physician has no control over the patient's behavior.


What illness has struck lady Macbeth in act 5?

The doctor recognizes that Lady Macbeth's problems are mental, not physical, and that psychiatric science had not advanced so far that he could treat it. He cannot "minister to a mind diseas'd"; "therein the patient must minister to himself."


What does this exchange reveal about the view of medicine during Elizabethan times?

From The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare MACBETH. Cure her of that. Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased, Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, Raze out the written troubles of the brain, And with some sweet oblivious antidote Cleanse the stuffed bosom of that perilous stuff Which weighs upon the heart? DOCTOR. Therein the patient Must minister to himself.Elizabeth believed there was a connection between the body and the mind.


What do these lines suggest about the beliefs of the time in which The Tragedy of Macbeth was written?

People believed that all witches were women, therefore if they are witches they "should be women". Actually that belief has not changed much.


Why were doctor and gentlewomen watching Lady Macbeth in Macbeth act 5?

Macbeth was worried about Lady Macbeth because she had begun sleepwalking. Because of this development, he called for the doctor to check on her. The gentlewoman was the woman who attended on Lady Macbeth, and who showed the doctor where she could be found at night. Both watch the sleepwalking scene. Later, the doctor reports his findings to Macbeth. "She is troubled by thick-coming fancies that keep her from her rest." But he tells Macbeth that there is no medical answer for her problem; "Therein the patient must minister to himself."


What is the doctor referring to wen he say therein the patient must minster to himself?

He cannot cure lady macbeths malady


What 7 letter word has the words the there he in rein her here ere therein herein?

therein


How do you use therein in a sentence?

He never returned to his home-town, and therein lies a mystery.


What rhymes with therein?

barren


What actors and actresses appeared in Therein - 2012?

The cast of Therein - 2012 includes: Yotum Almor Rebecca Doran as Juniper


How many miles are therein a marathon?

26.2