| Opening of Scene 5 | In Inverness, Macbeth’s castle, Lady Macbeth |
| What is Lady Macbeth doing at the opening of scene 5? | Lady Macbeth reads to herself a letter she has received from Macbeth. |
| What does the letter say? | The letter announces Macbeth’s promotion to the thaneship of Cawdor and details his meeting with the witches |
| What does Lady Macbeth think about Macbeth? | Lady Macbeth murmurs that she knows Macbeth is ambitious, but fears he is too full of “th’ milk of human kindness” to take the steps necessary to make himself king |
| What does Lady Macbeth resolve to for her husband to get the crown? | She resolves to convince her husband to do whatever is required to seize the crown. |
| What does the messenger tell Lady Macbeth? | A messenger enters and informs Lady Macbeth that the king rides toward the castle, and that Macbeth is on his way as well. |
| What does Lady Macbeth ask for spirits to do for her? | 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” |
| What does Lady Macbeth resolve to do? | She resolves to put her natural femininity aside so that she can do the bloody deeds necessary to seize the crown. |
| What does Macbeth tell Lady Macbeth of the King’s plans | Macbeth tells his wife that Duncan plans to depart the next day |
| What prediction does Lady Macbeth make about the King | Lady Macbeth declares that the king will never see tomorrow |
| What does Lady Macbeth tell Macbeth about handling the problem with the King? | She tells her husband to have patience and to leave the plan to her. |
| Opening Act 1 Scene 6 | Duncan, the Scottish lords, and their attendants arrive outside Macbeth’s castle |
| Duncan and Lady Macbeth meet outside the castle | Duncan praises the castle and thanks the hostess. She says that they owe so much to the King. Duncan says that he loves Macbeth |
| Opening Act 1 Scene 7 | Inside the castle, as oboes play and servants set a table for the evening’s feast, |
| What does Macbeth think about the assassination of Duncan? | He says that the deed would be easy if he could be certain that it would not set in motion a series of terrible consequences. He declares his willingness to risk eternal damnation but realizes that even on earth, bloody actions “return / To plague th’inventor” |
| What reasons does Macbeth think of to not kill the king? | Macbeth is Duncan’s kinsman, subject, and host; moreover, the king is universally admired as a virtuous ruler |
| What reason does Macbeth have to kill the king? | There is no reason to kill the king other than his own ambition, which he realizes is an unreliable guide. |
| What does Macbeth decide about killing the king? Who does he tell | Macbeth tells Lady Macbeth that he has decided not to kill the king. |
| How does Lady Macbeth react when Macbeth tells her that he has changed his mind about killing the king? | Lady Macbeth, outraged, calls him a coward and questions his manhood |
| Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss the assassination | He asks her what will happen if they fail; she promises that as long as they are bold, they will be successful |
| What is the plan to kill the King? | while Duncan sleeps, she will give his chamberlains wine to make them drunk, and then she and Macbeth can slip in and murder Duncan. They will smear the blood of Duncan on the sleeping chamberlains to cast the guilt upon them |
| What does Macbeth think of his wife’s plan? | Macbeth tells his wife that her “undaunted mettle” makes him hope that she will only give birth to male children |
| When does Macbeth agree to proceed with the murder? | After his wife tells him her plan. |
MacBeth Act 1 Scenes 5-7
July 3, 2019