In Act 1, Scene 7 of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, Lady Macbeth confronts her husband, challenging his resolve to murder King Duncan.

Title of Monologue:

Lady Macbeth's Monologue from Act 1, Scene 7 of Macbeth

Synopsis:

Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth's courage and commitment to their plan to assassinate King Duncan. She accuses him of wavering and uses provocative imagery to challenge his masculinity and determination.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Macbeth has expressed doubts about proceeding with the murder of Duncan, citing the king's recent honors toward him and the moral implications of the act.

Original Text:

LADY MACBETH:

Was the hope drunk

Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?

And wakes it now to look so green and pale,

At what it did so freely? From this time

Such I account thy love. Art thou afeared

To be the same in thine own act and valour,

As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,

And live a coward in thine own esteem,

Letting ‘I dare not’, wait upon ‘I would’,

Like the poor cat i’th’ adage?

MACBETH

Prithee, peace.

I dare do all that may become a man,

Who dares do more, is none.

What beast was’t then

That made you break this enterprise to me?

When you durst do it, then you were a man;

And to be more than what you were, you would

Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place

Did then adhere, and yet you would make both:

They have made themselves, and that their fitness now

Does unmake you. I have given suck, and know

How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me:

I would, while it was smiling in my face,

Have plucked the nipple from his boneless gums,

And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn

As you have done to this.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

LADY MACBETH:

Was your ambition drunk when you dressed yourself in it? Has it slept since then? And does it now wake up looking sickly at what it so eagerly desired? From now on, I'll measure your love by this. Are you afraid to act on your desires? Do you want the crown—the greatest prize in life—but live as a coward in your own eyes, letting "I dare not" wait upon "I want to," like the cat in the proverb that wanted the fish but wouldn't wet its paws? What kind of beast made you reveal this plan to me? When you dared to do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. Neither time nor place was right before, yet you would make both. Now they have made themselves, and their readiness now makes you unready. I have nursed a baby and know how tender it is to love the infant that feeds from me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from its toothless gums and dashed its brains out, had I sworn to do so as you have sworn to this.

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

• Hope: Ambition or aspiration.

• Dress’d yourself: Adopted or assumed.

• Green and pale: Sickly and fearful.

• Ornament of life: The crown or highest honor.

• ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would’: Hesitation preventing desire.

• Cat i’ th’ adage: Reference to the proverb about a cat that wants fish but won't wet its paws.

• Break this enterprise: Reveal this plan.

• Durst: Dared.

• Adhere: Be suitable or appropriate.

• Unmake: Undermine or destroy.

• Given suck: Nursed a child.

• Boneless gums: Toothless gums.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

1. Questioning Macbeth's Resolve:
   Was the hope drunk, Wherein you dress’d yourself? Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At what it did so freely?
   Lady Macbeth questions whether Macbeth's ambition was impulsive and fleeting, suggesting that his initial enthusiasm has faded, leaving him fearful and hesitant about the deed he once embraced eagerly.

2. Equating Hesitation with Love:
   From this time Such I account thy love.
   She implies that his wavering commitment to their plan reflects the strength of his love for her, insinuating that his hesitation indicates a lack of devotion.

3. Challenging His Courage:
   Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valour, As thou art in desire?
   Lady Macbeth confronts Macbeth, questioning whether he is afraid to act on his desires with the same bravery he exhibits in envisioning them, thus challenging his courage and resolve.

4. Accusing Him of Cowardice:
   Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’ Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?
   She accuses him of desiring the crown—the highest honor—yet being too cowardly to seize it, likening him to a proverbial cat that wants fish but is unwilling to get its paws wet.

5. Recalling His Initial Resolve:
   What beast was’t then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man.
   Lady Macbeth reminds Macbeth of the moment he first shared the plan with her, asserting that his willingness to proceed then defined his manhood, and that following through would elevate his masculinity further.

6. Highlighting the Opportunity:
   Nor time, nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both: They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake you.
   She points out that previously, the circumstances were not favorable, yet he was determined to create the opportunity. Now that the perfect moment has arisen naturally, his hesitation undermines him.

7. Demonstrating Her Own Resolve:
   I have given suck, and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.
   Lady Macbeth declares her own unwavering commitment by stating that, despite knowing the tenderness of nursing a child, she would have violently killed her own baby if she had sworn to do so, emphasizing the seriousness of keeping one's promises.

Journey Keypoints:

• Hook: Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth's fading ambition, suggesting it was impulsive and has now left him fearful.

• Turning Point: She challenges his love and courage, equating his hesitation with a lack of both.

• Climax: Accuses him of cowardice, using a vivid metaphor to underscore his inaction.

• Resolution: Demonstrates her own ruthless resolve, emphasizing the importance of keeping one's promises.

This monologue is pivotal in the play, as Lady Macbeth's provocations compel Macbeth to commit regicide, setting the tragic events of the play into motion.