Act 5 Scene 1


God, God forgive us all! Look after her; Remove from her the means of all annoyance,16 And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night: My mind she has mated,17 I think, but dare not speak.


GENTLEWOMAN Good night, good doctor. [Exeunt]


Key Quotations LADYMACBETH Out, damned spot!


LADYMACBETH Here's the smell of the blood still: all the / perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little / hand.


DOCTOR Unnatural deeds / Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds / To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets


Commentary 


This scene provides an intimate vision of LadyMacbeth sleepwalking. Like the doctor and the gentlewoman, the audience watches with horror as she reveals her guilt for the crimes she has committed with Macbeth.





In Acts 1 and 2, Lady Macbeth seemed able to deal with the consequences of her actions. It was she who chided Macbeth for his inability to put the murders behind him and coldly announced, ‘A little water clears us of this deed.’ However, in Act 3 Lady Macbeth signals that the role of Queen has brought her no contentment: ‘'Tis safer to be that which we destroy / Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.’ The sleepwalking scene develops this idea and illustrates the heavy burden of guilt that Lady Macbeth carries. She keeps a light by her side continually as a source of comfort; this suggests a traumatisedmind. Shakespeare cleverly uses the device of sleepwalking to reveal her inner torment as it provides unrestrained access to her thoughts and feelings. Through her sleepwalking, Lady Macbeth illustrates her great unhappiness and fraying mental state. Her earlier statement: ‘These deeds must not be thought / After these ways; so, it will make us mad,’ (Act 2, Scene 2) now seems remarkably prophetic.





The burden of guilt that LadyMacbeth carries is dramatically shown here. She is seenwashing her hands, attempting to cleanse herself of the memory of Duncan’s murder: ‘Out, damned spot!... who would have thought the old man / to have had so much blood in him.’ However, her efforts are in vain as the imagined smell of blood remains: ‘Here's the smell of the blood still: all the / perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little / hand.’Lady Macbeth realises the role she played in encouragingMacbeth tomurderDuncan; she nowbears the guilt for the evil Macbeth has unleashed on Scotland.


112 16


Macbeth and amazed my sight.


Remove…all annoyance: Take away anything with which she could harm herself.


17 mated: confused


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