Many things seem harmless but are not. This reinforces Lady Macbeth’s point about Macbeth treating his guests warmly and with kindness. Change ), Contact us for a free consultation: hello@quicklits.com, What is a Tragic Hero? What's your definition of a Good Best Friend. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to "look like the innocent flower/But be the serpent under it". This is significant in the course of the action of the play, because once Macbeth turns to a villainous course of action and begins to hide his "serpent" behaviour behind a veil of niceness and false innocence, he gets deeper and deeper into the crimes he must commit, including the murder of his friend Banquo. Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear. They represent dangers in the quotation "we have scotched the snake not kill'd it" and in Macbeth's remark "there the grown serpent lies". The innocent flower idea refers actually to a lady appearing like a virgin. It doesn't really work, because you read later on as he comes in and has a fantastic speech ("If it were done, when tis done, then 'twere done quickly"), and then LadyMB comes in and there is a great piece of dialogue as posted (the start, anyway) below: LadyMB: "He has almost supped, why have you left the chamber? After all, who would be afraid of a flower? Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. To show this, she uses a metaphor, comparing Macbeth’s face to a book. She is trying to convince Macbeth to become a villain and murder King Duncan. ", It shows how Macbeth needs to be the nice to Duncan to prove his innocence even though he has agreed to kill him. This quote also parallels her previous quote "Your face, my thane, is like a book where men may read strange matters". In context with the play, until the murder takes place, she wants Macbeth to be welcoming and "Jovial among your guests tonight" (quote from the same scene), and to hide his evil schemings behind this innocent facade, as to not be a "book where men may read strange matters". She encourages him to appear innocent and play the welcoming host to the king so that no one will suspect his true intention: murder. ", "Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle toward my hand? It is also significant in that Lady Macbeth is the real brains behind the murder of Duncan, but Macbeth is the one that actually carries all the crimes out. You can sign in to give your opinion on the answer. 4 "Have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition" This quote is one of most memorable from Macbeth (and it’s one of QuickLits’ personal favourites). Thus, essentially what she means by “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it” is that Macbeth must deceive people—most importantly Duncan—into believing that he is innocent of murderous thoughts. Macbeth says, "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." To drive her point home, she repeats it by saying Macbeth needs to look as innocent as a flower. In order for them to execute their plan flawlessly, both characters must appear to be benevolent servants of King Duncan. Basically looking sweet and dainty like a flower, but being a giant monster bear underneath!:). What is the most powerful quote you know? LadyMB is saying to look respectful and welcoming and happy on the outside (like a flower), but to hide your plotting and scheming and evils inside (the serpent). Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Read about our approach to external linking.
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