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LM assumes the masculine role in her relationship with M – this is courageous, she subverts the expectations of a Jacobean women.

“ignorant present” Word choice of ignorant has negative connotations , this shows her utter disgust of the current situation. Her current situation would be envied by most of Jacobean society – she is in the upper echelons of society, so this shows her insatiable ambition.

What is interesting is if we look at the first words uttered by LM and M on seeing each after a long time apart.

LM says: “Great Glamis, Worthy Cawdor”. It is interesting to note that she refers to his titles and status. Clearly this is how she look son him – as a status, and from him she gains status. This shows the reader that the thing uppermost in her mind is status and hence her ambition, and shows her obsession with power. She sees her husband as a role, not as her love. In contrast, Macbeth’s first utterance to his wife is: “Dearest love”. This is juxtaposed to his wife’s welcome and shows the reader that he, in contrast, sees his wife for exactly that: his wife, his love.

 

LM commands her husband: “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it”. LM is encouraging her husband to be deceitful. Just as a snake is poisonous, deadly but also often unnoticed  suggesting that he have these qualities when dealing with Duncan. She is here corrupting him, however Shakespeare (through the use of the supernatural) has already informed the reader that Macbeth is easily persuaded. Macbeth is gullible and malleable, but perhaps not the driving force or as strong and determined as LM.  He is vulnerable to her persuasion as his first words to her show his utter love and dedication to her. He is a devoted husband.

 

Act 1 Scene 6

Where Lady Macbeth in the same property saw a “raven”, Banquo (in the company of Duncan) saw a “martlet”. A martlet live in churches and so is associated with religion, purity and innocence thus linking Duncan and his party with purity. Shakespeare uses bird imagery to juxtapose the two groups.