Sc. 5, Lines 62-63: What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband to act like? Why is a serpent

an appropriate comparison? Who do you think is more like a serpent-Macbeth or Lady

Macbeth? Why?

Answer and Explanation:

What does Lady Macbeth tell her husband to act like?

In the play "Macbeth", by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth tells her husband to "look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it."

Why is a serpent an appropriate comparison?

The serpent is known for its dissimulation. If we think of the serpent as presented in the Bible, it was the animal used by Lucifer to convince Eve to commit the original sin. If we think of the serpent as the animal we find in forests and jungles, its capability to disguise, to hide, and then attack is superb - in a very scary way. The serpent is able to keep itself from being seen, noticed, which makes it even more dangerous. That is how Lady Macbeth wants her husband to be. She wants him to pretend innocence and harmlessness so that no one will suspect his criminal moves.

Who do you think is more like a serpent-Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? Why?

Lady Macbeth is certainly more serpent-like than her husband. She is an extremely ambitious woman who already dominates the art of deceiving to get what she wants. She is basically coaching him, teaching him her own skills, so that he can go and do the dirty work that will lead them to victory.