However, when I watched the third interpretation, the clip, I was able to pick up on other clues that I hadn’t been able to before. When Lady Macbeth speaks, her voice is not mousy, nor does she choke. She speaks with confidence and with a sharp tone - almost.
In the video, as Lady Macbeth talks, she moves her hands. These exaggerated hand gestures seem to put an emphasis on her words. And at one point, she wraps her arms around Macbeth’s neck and looks deep into his face. It’s done in a very dramatic way.
All of this combined gives the impression that Lady Macbeth is very passionate about wanting her husband to go through with the plan - which is to kill Duncan.
Step 1: Character Interpretation
Earlier in this lesson you read
two different interpretations of a scene featuring Lady Macbeth. You were asked to view a stage performance of the same scene in order to answer this question: How does this interpretation compare to the others? In a response of at least five sentences, comment on the stage interpretation and explain your impression of Lady Macbeth in this scene. Use specific examples from the clip to support your answer. Things to consider: her facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.
When reading the first two interpretations, I was able to pick out pieces from the text that helped me develop a sense of the kind of person Lady Macbeth is. Lady Macbeth says, “Your face, my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters. To beguile the time, look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue.” Lady Macbeth is telling her husband he’s like an open book; he’s very easy to read and she advices him to look innocent (as a flower) and keep his cruel intentions tucked inside.