Darius LeBeaux
English 2029 – White, Dylan
February 8th, 2019
Scene Analysis – Macbeth
When first reading the spoken text of the play alone the dialogue reveals a good amount
of information about the character. The opening scene reveals that the doctor is maybe getting a
little impatient when it comes to trying to provide care for Lady Macbeth, "I have two nights
watched with you but can perceive no truth in your report" (5:1:1-2). Stating how long he has
been there possibly is indicating that his patience is wearing thin. As the scene ends a character
trait that is revealed about the doctor is that he is religious too. After witnessing the mental state
of Lady Macbeth, he concludes that it is beyond his control and that they need someone of
religious value to help her, "More needs she the divine than the physician, God, God forgive us
all! Look after her, Remove from her the means of all annoyance," (Shakespeare 5:1:78-80). This
cry to God showcases that his religious beliefs are very strong.
As for the gentlewoman what the spoken text reveals about her is that she is very
observant character who pities Lady Macbeth during her time of troubles. When the
gentlewoman says things like "she often does that" (5:1:31) it indicates that the gentlewoman has
been watching Lady Macbeth for a quite some time to catch the patterns of her sleepwalking.
While witnessing Lady Macbeth sleepwalk in the scene, she vocalizes her pity, "I would not
have such a heart in my bosom for the dignity of the whole body" (5:1:58-59). Saying this, the
gentlewoman agrees that Lady Macbeth's heart is carrying a heavy burden, a burden in which she
does not wish to have for herself if it was to make her queen. Another character trait that is
revealed about the gentlewoman through spoken text is that she is religious also. After Lady
Macbeth talks in her sleep about the thane of Fife the gentlewoman says, "Heaven knows what
secrets she's keeping" (Shakespeare 5:1: 52), this means the gentlewoman believes in a higher
power and that possibly they have the final say.
As for Lady Macbeth herself the spoken text reveals a very important change in her
character. Throughout the entire scene Lady Macbeth is sleep walking. While she is
sleepwalking, she is vocal, reenacting the time in which after Macbeth killed King Duncan,
"Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One: two: why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky.
Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none
can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so
much blood in him" (Shakespeare 5:1:38-43).
This reenactment of that night showcases that Lady Macbeth is guilty for the crimes of which she
has helped commit with her husband.
For the action text of Scene 2, a production done by Laura Irish of Body in Space Theatre
Company focused on Lady Macbeth as the doctor and the gentlewoman are not included in the
scene for this production. She first appears fidgeting a lot with her hands, but her eyes seem on
unfocused as if they aren't really looking at anything; they appear that way throughout the entire
scene. Lady Macbeth in this production also seems to oddly turn her head frequently throughout
the scene as well, as if she is looking for something or someone who is not there; in a way it
makes her look like she is crazy. There are also moments of sorrow throughout her speech, but is
quickly pulled back with the look of paranoia and concern for the man of which she loves,
Macbeth. However, in a production done by Shakespeare at Play, the doctor and gentlewomen
are included in the scene but the focus is still on Lady Macbeth. The scene starts as Lady
Macbeth enters and the gentlewoman directs the doctor’s attention to her. Lady Macbeth walks
in slowly with a blank stare on her face, holding a lantern as if it were of dear importance to her.
The doctor's face shows concern for Lady Macbeth as if he is trying to understand what is going
on but the gentlewoman's facial expressions seem less than the doctor indicating she has seen
this before. Lady Macbeth herself seems to have concern as well written over her face, but for
the obvious reason of the guilt of her actions.
For the subtext of the scene, guilt first presents itself after Lady Macbeth enters the room
sleepwalking as she complains about a spot of blood on her hands—which belongs to King
Duncan (old man), "Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One, two...Yet who would have thought the
old man to have had so much blood in him." (Shakespeare 5:1:38-43). This makes the audience
fully aware that she is filled with guilt due to the crimes of which she has taken part of—so much
that she is sleepwalking. The doctor and gentlewoman can clearly see the guilt as it is described
as something heavy on her heart, "What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged"
(Shakespeare 5:1:56-57), a heart of which the gentlewoman pities Lady Macbeth for having.
Isolation also plays a major underlying theme in this scene in which it is focused on Lady
Macbeth. It seems that the reason Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and showcasing her secrets is
because the guilt of what she has done is eating away inside of her and she has nothing to distract
herself from it or no one to confide to about it. Unlike her husband who is off fighting the war
and having something to occupy his mind, she is isolated and constantly faced with her own
thoughts, manifesting the guilt into something greater. Lady Macbeth: A Psychological Sketch,
Munro supports the theme of isolation as well,
"With Lady Macbeth it was far otherwise. She had no way of escaping from her own
thoughts, no way of plunging into such a course of action as might help to keep away
the remembrance of the past or to relieve the present. It was hers to suffer silently and
alone. She had obtained the object of her desires, but it was, in the attainment of it,
turned into fire and ashes on her lips" (Munro 33).
He agrees that Lady Macbeth had no way in escaping her thoughts and that it weighted so heavy
on her it manifested itself on her lips. Catherine Boyd also makes mention of Lady Macbeth's
isolation in The Isolation of Antigone and Lady Macbeth,
"Regardless of the drain upon her own strength, regardless of her own growing sense of
despair, she is the bulwark of her husband. Underneath this determination, however, is
sickening remorse for the crimes and deep loneliness of a heart-sick soul.
Nought's had, all's spent,
When our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
This is a preparation for the sleep-walking scene" (Boyd 177)
Boyd makes the connection to Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking as a manifestation of her remorse
for the crimes and deep loneliness in her heart supporting that isolation is a major theme
presented.
Works Cited
Boyd, Catherine Bradshaw. “The Isolation of Antigone and Lady Macbeth.” The Classical Journal,
vol. 47, no. 5, 1952, pp. 174–203. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3293317.
MUNRO, ROBERT. “LADY MACBETH: A PSYCHOLOGICAL SKETCH.” The Journal of Speculative
Philosophy, vol. 21, no. 1, 1887, pp. 30–36. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25668126.
“Macbeth.” Shakespeare, directed by Laura Irish, Body in Space Theatre Company, 19 Sept. 2011,
Nelson, New Zealand.
“Macbeth.” Shakespeare, Shakespeare at Play, 13 Sept. 2013
Shakespeare, William, and Sylvan Barnet. Macbeth. A Signet Classic, 1963.