GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE LADY MACBETH 'Out Damned Spot' Analysis

An analysis of the Lady Macbeth speech ‘Out damned Spot’

In this speech the use of the imperative “out” is in keeping with Lady Macbeth being both powerful and in command, she is ordering the blood to go. There is an underlying irony here however as the fact that Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking confers how she does not have control over everything. She cannot control nature and she cannot ultimately control her own mind as she is so evidently in torment. This is reinforced with the repetition of the word “out”; this serves to point to her evident loss of control. Repetition serves to convey a sense of panic and desperation, both of which are emotions that are the exact antithesis of control. This image of a tormented Lady Macbeth is in direct juxtaposition to the image of her goading Macbeth and calling him a “coward” thereby implying that she was the one with all the strength and fearlessness. In this brief speech Shakespeare explores the concept of guilt and sin.