What is Lady Macbeth's famous speech?
Isabella Ramos
Updated on June 15, 2026
As she awaits her husband's arrival, she delivers a famous speech in which she begs, “you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty” (1.5. 38–41).
What is Lady Macbeth's most famous line?
Lady Macbeth quotes
- “Come you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.” ...
- “And when goes hence?” ...
- “Look like th'innocent flower, But be the serpent under't” ...
- “What beast was't then, That made you break this enterprise to me?” ...
- “Tis the eye of childhood, That fears a painted devil.” ...
- “What's to be done?”
What is the famous speech from Macbeth?
"Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" is the beginning of the second sentence of one of the most famous soliloquies in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth.
What is Lady Macbeth's second soliloquy?
Lady Macbeth uses the second person to directly address the spirits, saying: “fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/Of direst cruelty,” among other spine-chilling things.
What does Lady Macbeth's unsex me speech mean?
What do Lady Macbeth's words “unsex me here” mean? She vows not to have sex with Macbeth until he becomes king. She wants to set aside feminine sentiments that could hinder bloody ambitions.
28 related questions foundWhat does the raven Symbolise in Lady Macbeth's speech?
These lines have been interpreted by some commentators as a metaphorical reference to the messenger who has just announced to Lady Macbeth that Duncan and Macbeth are on their way, but it's more likely that Lady Macbeth means just what she says: the raven really is a raven. Of direst cruelty!
How does Lady Macbeth manipulate Macbeth?
Controlling – she knows her husband won't want to murder the king so she manipulates him. She plans the murder and takes control of events when Macbeth loses the plot. Cruel – she is violent, cold-blooded and happy to be a part of the murder. She ridicules Macbeth when he won't join in with her cold-blooded plans.
What is Lady Macbeth's advice?
What advice does Lady Macbeth give Macbeth when he arrives home? She tells him he must learn to look innocent even when his heart is full of evil. He has to learn to hide his true feelings.
Who says like Valour's minion?
Key character: Macbeth
Macbeth is described as 'Valour's minion' (line 19) and 'Bellona's bridegroom' (line 55), meaning bravery's favourite and the husband of war. Duncan praises Macbeth as 'valiant', a 'Worthy gentleman' (line 24) and as 'noble' (line 70).
What does Lady Macbeth foreshadow in her speech?
When Lady Macbeth states, “What, will these hands ne'er be clean?” (5.1. 39), she demonstrates that she is suffering the torment foreshadowed on the night of the murder.
What is Macbeth's Tomorrow speech?
The meaning of this phrase is that life is meaningless, useless, and empty; and that every day just creeps by like every other day. After his wife dies, time seems to Macbeth an intolerable burden, and the future an overwhelming force that leads him to his destiny.
How is Lady Macbeth a tragic heroine?
In some minds, Lady Macbeth can be considered a tragic hero because, she is a strong character with a high social rank that causes her to essentially create her own downfall, and feels guilty for her actions, once her inevitable downfall leads to death, she pity arouses in the readers' hearts.
What does Macbeth say when he hears of Lady Macbeth's death?
What does Macbeth say when he hears of Lady Macbeth's death? Macbeth said she would have died hereafter anyway.
What quotes Lady Macbeth's guilt?
All perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. (5,1,34-35) This line is said by Lady Macbeth as she reaches the stage of her guilty conscience.
How does Lady Macbeth show guilt?
Lady Macbeth obsessively washes her hands in the fifth act of the play in order to wash off the imaginary blood on them, a reminder of the guilt she has over the killings she and her husband carried out.
What are two quotes that show Lady Macbeth manipulating Macbeth in Macbeth?
“When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man” (1.7. 49-51). In this quote Lady Macbeth is manipulating her husband Macbeth by speaking of his manhood. She gains more and more control over Macbeth as the play goes on.
What does Valours minion mean?
Phrases such as "Valour's minion" (the servant of Courage) and "Bellona's bridegroom" (the husband of War) exemplify Macbeth's superheroism. His strength is underscored by the captain's graphic account of Macbeth's actions on the battlefield.
What is smoked with bloody execution?
Soon after, the bloody captain praises Macbeth's deeds in battle, saying that he held his sword "Which smoked with bloody execution" (1.2. 20), meaning that Macbeth's bravery was shown by his sword covered in the hot blood of the enemy.
Who said carved his passage?
At the beginning of the play when the Captain is describing how Macbeth defeats the traitor MacDonwald. The verb carved suggests Macbeth's determination in finding and taking responsibility for killing the traitor MacDonwald.
What argument does Lady Macbeth convince?
What arguments does Lady Macbeth use to convince Macbeth to commit the murder? -She tells him not to be a coward, not to say later that he "could have been" when he could "be" king.
What does Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth she will do?
She tells Macbeth that once Duncan is asleep, she'll get his servants so drunk that they pass out. Then she and Macbeth can kill Duncan and blame his servants for the killing. Lady Macbeth's plan is good enough to convince Macbeth to change his mind and agree to kill Duncan.
What does Lady Macbeth want the most?
Lady Macbeth opens a letter from her husband telling her all about the Witches and what they have promised him. She is really excited about being queen. She wants to kill the King so that Macbeth can become king as soon as possible.
Did Lady Macbeth love her husband?
At the beginning of the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were very close and loving. Lady Macbeth showed that she was supportive to Macbeth and encouraged him to kill Duncan in order to clear all obstacles that would get in the way of Macbeth becoming King!
Who is more evil Lady Macbeth or Macbeth?
Throughout the play both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth struggle with their need for power making them both evil; however, Macbeth is shown to be more evil due to his lack of emotion and sanity.
What type of character is Lady Macbeth?
Lady Macbeth is strong, ruthless, and ambitious. It is she who suggests to Macbeth that they should kill Duncan in order to make the witches' prophecy come true. Seemingly more strong willed than Macbeth, she helps her husband recover from his fear after he kills Duncan, and helps the cover up.