ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -In order to deceive them, you must appear the way they expect you to look. Thus, essentially what she means by “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it” is that Macbeth must deceive people-most importantly Duncan-into believing that he is innocent of murderous thoughts. Lady Macbeth is ambitious.

Detailed explanation-2: -The serpent is a symbol used to represent treachery. Lady Macbeth warns her husband to ‘look like the innocent flower, /But be the serpent under’t’ (I. 5.63–4). Effect. The symbolism here shows that Lady Macbeth wishes her husband to appear well-meaning and gentle to hide his deceit.

Detailed explanation-3: -In the scene with Lady Macbeth that follows, Macbeth again echoes her previous comments. She told him earlier that he must “look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t” (1.5. 63–64).

Detailed explanation-4: -The technique portrayed in this quote is a simile in which lady Macbeth is comparing Macbeth to a serpent when she’s telling him to look and act innocent in front of the king despite the vile feelings he really has towards him.

Detailed explanation-5: -When Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to ‘look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t’ (1.5. 65–66), she echoes the image of the medal – well known to Shakespeare’s audience – and associates their planned deception of Duncan with Jesuit treason and the Gunpowder Plot.