In Act V Scene i we see the Doctor and the Gentlewoman observing
Lady Macbeth's sinister night time ritual of washing her hands after the murder of King Duncan.
The Doctor comments-
DOCTOR: You see, her eyes
are open.
Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking, and her eyes are literally open. However, this
could be interpreted as a pun as she is also able to 'see' why she is in such at terrible
psychological state. Similarly the Gentlewoman's response also has a double
meaning-
GENTLEWOMAN: Ay, but their sense is
shut.
Lady Macbeth is not alert to those around her and cannot see them as she
is in her sonambulant state. She is also 'blind' to the perilous future her and her husband have
unleashed on themselves having killed the king.
No comments:
Post a Comment