The extract of Macbeth's letter written to his wife by William Shakespeare starts telling of the witches' prophecies for Macbeth and of his promotion to be the Thane of Cawdor. In the first line of the text "they met me in the day of success" underlines the alliteration of the sound "m" that focusses the attention of the reader to the position of Macbeth. It is also reinforced by the subject "I" in the following phrase. Right from the start the intelligent reader understands that Macbeth believes in supernatural because the first prophecy was fulfilled by the sentences "the perfectest report" and "mortal knowledge". Shakespeare uses the word "perfectest" in the second line because he wants to underline the big believe that Macbeth has in the prophecies. The phonological sound "them than" in the third line reinforces the attention on the witches and gives them an important role. The use of the verb "burn" in the fourth line makes the reader understand that Macbeth wants absolutely to know about her future. In the fifth line, Shakespeare uses the form "stood rapt" in place of "was surprised" to draw the attention of the reader. Macbeth wrote a letter immediately to his wife to confide her what happened to him. We can understand that Lady Macbeth is very important for him ("my dearest partner of greatnesss"). The words "dear" and "great" underline king's courtesy and the delight to write to his wife. In addition the letter reveals a lot about his character especially his love and trust in his wife. In the line 12 "thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing", he announces his joy and he believes that his wife has a right to rejoice, because she will be a queen. He doesn't have the right behaviour because he thinks like a child and believes in his dreams. Therefore Lady Macbeth has a strong influence on her husband. This is strange because in the Middle Ages the woman isn't as important as the man. It means that Lady Macbeth is responsible for controlling Macbeth's passions and his actions. The repetition of the subject "you" underlines the secondary position of Macbeth. He concludes his letter sweetly, but the word "forewell" puts the reader in doubt because it seems like they won't see each other again afterwards even if it's not true.The second part of the extract, from the line 15th, describes Lady Macbeth's ambitions and opinions, where the reader can understand Macbeth's and his wife's personality. The text reveals Lady Macbeth's diabolic nature, right from her first appearance. In addition she decides to incite her husband to murder the current king: she wants to transform the prophecy of the witches in facts. In the 16th, the word "fear" makes the reader understand that the Lady suspects that her husband doesn't have the right stuff to do what needs to be done. Her reaction to the letter shows that she is a woman who knows his husband very well. The phrase "It is too full o' milk of human kindness" of the line 17 is a metaphor to compare Macbeth to a baby who needs to be support. The sound "u" of the words "too full" underlines the seriousness of the situation. The Lady suggest to "the nearest way" because she doesn't believe that his husband is really good. She tells him what he must do if he wants to have the throne, but he's afraid to do it. In her view, he is coward and it's only the fear that's keeping him from the throne. In the line "that I may pour my spirits in thine ear" makes the reader understand that the Lady is going to enable him to reach his potential. The repetition of the sound "i" underlines her intention, described in the most grotesque terms. The phrase "the value of my tongue" bring out the ability of Lady Macbeth to play his husband along. She is the dominant partner in their marriage and that although Macbeth is a courageous and brave commander he can be easily manipulated by his wife. Indeed the word "gold", in "the golden round" that means crown, reinforces the importance of the throne that Lady Macbeth wants to conquer.
