Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Throughout the play "Macbeth", by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth's character drastically changes from being sinister to feeble. Lady Macbeth was an evil, manipulative person whose greed and selfishness were eventually the downfall of her character and well being. During the beginning of "Macbeth", she used her twisted mind to convince her husband to murder, making him believe that it was the only way he could get what he wanted. But as the play developed and the murders started to increase, Lady Macbeth started to question whether or not they were necessary. Sadly, though possibly justifiably, she ended up committing suicide after her constant questioning of the murders drove her to insanity. Lady Macbeth was an unemotional person who only cared about what she could gain. She made her disconcern about other people well known when she said, "How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me I would, while it was smiling in my face Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this." (Act I, Scene VII, Lines 55-60). Lady Macbeth refers that she would have no problem taking the life of her son, if it meant getting what she wanted. The fact that she would even fathom the idea of killing her own child makes her morose and appalling. If only she knew that it would be her who would be taken out of this world so cruelly. Being able to manipulate her husband's mind and the minds of others was another one of Lady Macbeth's baneful traits. After Macbeth killed King Duncan, still reeling from the crime he had committed, he met up with his wife. Once again, she used her manipulative ways to make him think that she felt just as bad as he did. She said, "My hands are of your color, but I shame To wear a heart so white." (Act II, Scene II, Lines 63-64). Lady Macbeth appeared to her husband as if she felt just as guilty about the act of violence as he did, knowing that in reality she didn't care at all. Telling Macbeth that her hands were as bloody as his own was to try to give him comfort that he was not alone in his schemes. But Lady Macbeth had other ideas in mind. She couldn't care less about her husband's thoughts or worries. All she could think about was

Macbeth, written by william shakespeare displays a diverse range of themes and topics throughout the play. These themes are represented through a wide range of characters throughout the dramatic text. One that is strongly underlined throughout the whole play is the theme of the connection between ambition and manipulation and one of the main characters; Lady Macbeth. Throughout the sequences of the play, lady macbeth is depicted as a head-strong ambitious woman who challenges her husband's masculinity in order for him to commit actions in order to gain power.

In society the purpose of gender roles is to group people into two opposite categories, men and women. These categories however, encourage toxic masculinity and gender inequality. In movies or books characters tend to fall into one category, when in reality most people don’t fit into just one. Shakespeare explores the idea of conformity and categorization in Macbeth. In Macbeth, the characters conformity to gender roles are the root of all their problems.

Then slowly Macbeth looses his masculine qualities. The witches have a part in him loosing his masculinity. The traditional role of men usually take charge, and wears the pants, but its already clear the Lady Macbeth wears the pants. “ Lady Macbeth appears to be the more freighting figure” (Maternal Power par 1). The role of Macbeth is a friendly person, who is dictated by his wife; She controls his every thought. Its as if he doesn’t make a move without her knowing. She clearly over powers him in every way. The weird sisters also play apart in the gender roles. “ The disruption of gender roles occur in the weird sisters the trio perceived as violating nature and dispute the designation, as sister the gender roles, the characters is also ambiguous” (play with gender role par 3).

Over time, there’s been obsession over whom is the most dominant man in all of Scotland and whom can be the best king of Cawdor. There’s sacrifices made and many deaths. It’s a tragic book with people whom carry a lot of pride in what they believe in. William Shakespeare from the play, Macbeth, in 1606, expresses how there’s a lot of integrity and hatred that everyone will have to go through in order to grow into a better a better person and role model for others. Masculinity shows pride. When you’re male, you would instantly have more power and control then if you were female. Some people, like Lady Macbeth, wish to be a gender they’re not in order to have the dominance they want so they’re treated with respect. You can appear to be someone you’re not. Lady Macbeth is the wife of Macbeth who is a powerful commander in the Scottish Army. Lady Macbeth wishes to have the masculinity a man has so that she could overthrow Macbeth and take his place. She won’t be able to succeed that goal if she is a woman. Because of that, Lady Macbeth decides to “work with” Macbeth to kill the king of Cawdor, who is Duncan. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth will kill Duncan after the battle in the defeat of the Scottish traitor. Lady Macbeth's need for masculinity will lead her to having the success of becoming the King of Scotland. She will overthrow Duncan and take his place as king. Lady macbeth is the tragedy in this play, and will do anything it takes to overthrow the King. Lady Macbeth is willing

By the end of the play, it is notable how hyper masculinity deteriorates the main characters of the play. The characters of Macbeth inhabit a world of darkness and uncertainty as hyper-masculine ideologies are introduced to them. As one reads throughout the play, it’s easy to pick up on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's excellent job at portraying the personification of humanity’s identity crisis with gender. Without proper gender roles, humanity begins to deteriorate, so the struggle that takes place in this play is of significant concern. With the creation of the Macbeths, Shakespeare diminishes everything that what was considered to be human nature. Macbeth becomes unstable because he cannot please such an unsatisfied woman, so he feels the need to take on an artificial hyper-masculine role but because of this is too torn to

account thy love. Art thou afraid to be the same in thine own act and

First off, Lady Macbeth is a character very much rooted in ambition. The authors use of masculinity versus femininity furthermore portrays the extent to which Lady Macbeth will go to ensure the success of her plan to kill the King. Her hunger for masculinity is first clearly portrayed through her use of the phrase “come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.” This quote exemplifies her willingness to give up her femininity in exchange for masculine cruelty, which would ensure her success in carrying out the murder of King Duncan. Through this quote, Lady Macbeth directly opposes the Elizabethan expectation of women to be feeble, nurturers of life. Lady Macbeth did not believe that her husband had the means to become a strong

The traditional gender role for men and women is a strict set of expectations one must face and either choose to follow or defy it. In the Shakespearian era women portray as the weaker sex because they display as needing protection as the more fragile, innocent, and dependent sex, whereas men have authority as strong, capable, and honourable beings. However, the traditional gender roles play in reversal in Macbeth by William Shakespeare by having Lady Macbeth, the Three Witches (weird sisters), and Macbeth defy the gender roles that allow women and men to portray in a unique way in society. First, Lady Macbeth is defiant to her role as a woman because she is able to take initiative, deceive others, and commit violent acts. Secondly, the three Witches are in fact sisters which avid them to follow their role as women, however they defy their roles because they manipulate others, have the capability to make independent decisions, and kill without hesitation. Finally, Macbeth defies his roles as a man in the Shakespearian era because he acts cowardly, isn’t able to carry out duties himself, and is disloyal to his companions.

Gender Roles in Macbeth Society has socially constructed the definition of what it takes to be a man and a woman, however in Shakespeare ’s play Macbeth the definition of these terms have been reconstructed to be limitless in terms that gender does not have to be defined by certain actions, behaviours or traits. Traditionally, men are considered to be strong and powerful while women are considered to be emotional and delicate. On the contrary, Shakespeare forces the audience question and rethink these traditional thoughts of gender roles by the role reversal that is seen between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Not only that, Shakespeare uses MacDuff to represent an individual who knows himself and acknowledges his happiness instead of living up to the ideal set forth by society.

Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, proves that Lady Macbeth does not align with the traditional gender roles. Throughout the play, she displays masculine roles instead of the traditional feminine roles that some would expect of her to display. For instance, she tells spirits, “unsex me here, and fill me from crown to the toe, topful of direst cruelty!” (Shakespeare 1. 5.

In Macbeth, one of the most tragic and well known plays, William Shakespeare changes women’s part in society. During this time period, women are known to be both mentally and physically weaker than men. Women are called to be only housewives. Shakespeare reflected the image of women in society by giving the men bigger leads in his plays. Only in a few of Shakespeare's plays did he give women strong leading roles. Macbeth is one of the few plays where women play a more powerful role than the men. In Macbeth, he gives the women unusual traits like manipulation and betrayal. In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, women like Lady Macbeth , the trio witches, and Lady Macduff portray non-feminine traits.

As the play continues, in the acts three and four the gender roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth make a big switch when Macbeth is planning on the killing of Banquo. Macbeth beings to act more masculine before this murder and in a sense leaves his lady out of what is going on this time, instead of her taking charge like before, Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day; And with thy bloody and invisible hand Cancel and tear to pieces that great bond Which keeps me pale! Light thickens; and the crow Makes wing to the rooky wood: Good things of day begin to droop and drowse; While night's black agents to their preys do rouse Thou marvell'st at my words: but hold thee still; Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill. So, prithee, go with me. (3.2, ).” As of now, Macbeth is portraying the actions of what society believes a man should act like. He is now telling her that he has a plan to kill Banquo but he is not going to tell her the details, he wants her not to worry because he believes he has everything under control. Macbeth is trying to be what it takes to be a man but when a person is power hungry they always seem to fail.

Another aspect of gender in this play that intensifies and drives the storyline is the reversal and confusion of gender roles that lead to conflicts among characters. This “confusion” can be interpreted in different ways based on the character to whom it applies but there are clear examples of this within the text. During an interaction with the Weird Sisters, Banqo states, “You should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so” (I.iii.45-47). This quote could certainly be interpreted as a comedic remark regarding the ugliness of the witches, but it presents a key point in the context of gender reversal. The weird sisters are traditionally identified as women, but possess powerful traits, more common to men at this time. Their beards symbolize their non-traditional behavior for women and thus give their prophecy more legitimacy in the notion that it can be fulfilled, prompting Macbeth to act. Lady Macbeth also experiences a reversal in gender role when she calls on the spirits to “Unsex her” (I.v.42-45). Lady Macbeth, to take on her husband’s endeavors, calls for this to

In perhaps the most pivotal scene in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s motives are truly revealed in her manipulation of Macbeth to show how humans have a desire for power and once they get a taste of it, they will go through any lengths to have it, no matter the effect on others. Her lust for power is showcased through how she persuades Macbeth by insulting his masculinity and using emotive language to counter his logical reasoning. This section of the play illustrates the tipping point of each character’s morality with Macbeth having second thoughts about the planned murder and Lady Macbeth diving straight in.