Macbeth: Lesson IV: Review Question IV

In the first scene of act five, we discover Lady Macbeth's peculiar habit- sleepwalking. This scene stars Lady Macbeth of course, but since she's asleep, the need arises for a couple of "commentators". Enter the Doctor and the Gentlewoman, a couple of relatively insignificant characters who, save for this scene, are absent from the play. Before Lady Macbeth even appears, the gentlewoman insists that

"I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep."

Soon after, Lady Macbeth enters with a candle. The two others once again act as "commentators" by noticing and questioning everything about her. They wonder where she got the candle, notice that her eyes are open, and talk about her wringing her hands. At last, Lady Macbeth speaks what's on her mind.

"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."

Creepy, huh? The Doctor and the Gentlewoman certainly thought so.  Lady Macbeth continues to feel guilty and wish the deed could be undone, while the others continue to talk about it. Eventually, she returns to bed, and the Doctor and gentle woman continue to worry about her health. The irony here is that in the beginning of the play she was the murderous and cruel one, while Macbeth continued to feel guilty. Now, in the last act, Macbeth is cold blooded and feels no remorse, while she is now feeling the guilt.


Sorry if it's a little too long! I get a bit carried away...