Scene themes act thematic complexity passage explains continues

Text	Themes (Act 1 Scene 5) The thematic complexity of this passage explains why it continues to fascinate audiences. In a play that, in many ways, presents us with a world turned upside down – where ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’ (1.1.11) – this scene offers us a glimpse of conventional gender roles being inverted. Lady Macbeth’s wish to be symbolically ‘defeminised’ is seemingly granted with great speed: her activity, forcefulness and engagement that are present as soon as Macbeth arrives shows that she is taking on characteristics that an Elizabethan audience would have identified as being more ‘masculine’.

Text

Themes (Act 1 Scene 5)

The thematic complexity of this passage explains why it continues to fascinate audiences.

In a play that, in many ways, presents us with a world turned upside down – where ‘Fair is foul, and foul is fair’ (1.1.11) – this scene offers us a glimpse of conventional gender roles being inverted.

Lady Macbeth’s wish to be symbolically ‘defeminised’ is seemingly granted with great speed: her activity, forcefulness and engagement that are present as soon as Macbeth arrives shows that she is taking on characteristics that an Elizabethan audience would have identified as being more ‘masculine’.

Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.

Themes (Act 1 Scene 5)