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Year 10 - English

Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt in 'Macbeth'

Macbeth: Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and analyse 'Macbeth' by focusing on the role of Lady Macbeth in the tragedy. They start by reading the full play, before moving on to a close analysis of key characters and themes. They then zoom in on Lady Macbeth and develop an essay on her as a Machiaevellian villain.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explore how Lady Macbeth's feelings of guilt change over the course of 'Macbeth'.

Key Notes

  • Lady Macbeth appears to be suffering from a psychological disorder that causes her to sleep-walk
  • This psychological disorder could be interpreted as a result of her guilt
  • Lady Macbeth's language echoes that of her husband in earlier scenes
  • Lady Macbeth's language might be suggesting that there is no salvation for the crimes that she has committed

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Salvation: In Christianity, salvation means you are delivered from sin and its consequences. The opposite of salvation is damnation.
  • Guilt: Guilt is an emotion you feel when you have done something bad. Guilt makes you feel worried and unhappy.
  • Symbol: If something is a symbol, it represents or expressed an idea. In 'Macbeth', blood is a symbol of guilt.
  • Echoes: If language echoes previous language in a text, it means it is similar. The slight differences help us notice something new.
  • Foreshadowing: Foreshadowing is a literary device. It gives the reader or audience a hint or indication of what might happen later in the story.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Lady Macbeth doesn't think guilt is a powerful emotion.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Lady Macbeth appears to be suffering from a psychological disorder that causes her to sleep-walk. This psychological disorder could be interpreted as a result of her guilt.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Salvation'

In Christianity, salvation means you are delivered from sin and its consequences. The opposite of salvation is damnation.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Lady Macbeth doesn't think guilt is a powerful emotion. Correction: Lady Macbeth acknowledges that guilt can make people 'mad' or 'brainsickly' in 2.2. This is why she tries to reject the emotion.

More Lessons In This Unit

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