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"hope"
Metaphor
Act 1,
Scene 7
Lines 35a-38

An explanation of Lady Macbeth’s metaphorical description of hope in Act 1, Scene 7 of myShakespeare’s Macbeth.

Macbeth

Not cast aside so soon.

Lady Macbeth

                                      Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since
And wakes it now to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time,

Lady Macbeth continues with another clothing metaphor, describing Macbeth as having dressed himself in hope. Then she equates Macbeth with hope personified: was hope (Macbeth) drunk earlier when it was so bold, and now has awoken green and pale with a hangover and become fearful?