Of Flowers and Serpents - Version 1

Written Explanation

I have decided to write a short narrative from Lady Macbeth's point of view relating to her death. I wanted to explore the idea that Lady Macbeth's death was not the result of a suicide, but a murder and a dispossession gone wrong. In act 5, scene 5, the doctor suggests '...more need she the divine than the physician'. which gave me the idea that this character believed she was possessed. I have used one of Shakespeare's metaphors and moulded it to fit my story. In the play, Lady Macbeth says "...look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't." I have interpreted the serpent to be Lady Macbeth's darker emotions, such as guilt and rage, and as her last line of emotional defence.

At one point in my narrative, Lady Macbeth says "I look the innocent flower, I am the serpent under it, striking those that disturb my rest." Lady Macbeth is saying that her emotions are her own, she is the happy facade she presents to those around her, but she is also the rage and darkness she conceals. When she strikes those that 'disturb [her] rest', she is building up a stronger wall around her darker emotions that someone has seen her display. "I wasn't quick enough to strike this time. I looked the innocent flower, but my serpent slumbered under it." refers to Lady Macbeth not being able to keep those around her from seeing her true colours and her darker side and emotions couldn't protect her. This piece is for people who wondered how Lady Macbeth died and wanted to know a little more about her past. I want the reader to attempt to understand Lady Macbeth's thought process and why she felt she had to make the deal with the witches without knowing the consequences of such a life a life altering decision.