The Ladies in Macbeth Essay

William Shakespeare introduces a concept in The Tragedy of Macbeth that was not graciously accepted in his time, but continues to fascinate his audiences today. Shakespeare examines the relationship as well as the individual, internal struggles among his two most dynamic characters, the Macbeths, while simultaneously confronting gender stereotypes, the sources of evil, and the development of the human conscience. In his essay The Perversion of Manliness in “Macbeth,” Jarold Ramsey proposes that “the nature of the great tragedies is such that they require us to ask, ‘What is a man? Of what is he capable? Where does his distinguishing worth lie? What are his moral and metaphysical limits?’” (Ramsey 285). It is certain that one can analyze the extensive changes in Macbeth’s mentality to discover these answers. However, when considering these questions in regard to Lady Macbeth, the question of her human condition becomes significantly more complicated. Unlike the steady deterioration of Macbeth’s sanity, Lady Macbeth has only sporadic diabolical moments contradicted with some exclamations of remorse for the atrocious “deeds” in which she had taken part in. While one might pass Lady Macbeth off as nothing more than “fickle” or “a hormonal woman,” the truth behind Lady Macbeth’s capricious nature lies in the same truth that has binded women for hundreds of years: the expectation that she is to be a “proper lady.” Lady Macbeth, through the temperment of a silent, restrained

    William Shakespeare's popular tragedy Macbeth surprises the audience with the character of Lady Macbeth, who is quite evil in her inclinations. Let us explore her memorable character in this paper.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare brings about one of the most controversial topic of the gender portrayal in a play. During Shakespearean times, women were considered as the weaker sex, physically and emotionally. On the other hand, men were seen as the dominant sex that is expected to be the head of their households and a strong figure. Unlike this stereotypical representation of men and women, Shakespeare introduces the reversal of gender roles in his play. Shakespeare’s portrayal of the relationship and characteristics of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth diverged from the stereotypical representation of both men and women. The author, William Shakespeare’s use of reverse gender roles which contradicted with the traditional gender roles, is what

Lady Macbeth’s atypical and complex character directly challenged the archetypal principles and beliefs of the Jacobean era which as a result, drew major fascination through the ages. Lady Macbeth was Shakespeare’s device to not only stimulate audience’s emotions, but to also provide historical context and elicit dominant themes which reflected Jacobean society. Her ambiguous character and remarkable influences in the play raised a lot of controversy and fascination amongst both modern and Jacobean audiences. She can either be seen as linked to the witches in a feminist bid to overthrow the balance of power, or as a representation of the evil side of Macbeth. Nevertheless, it was her distinct characteristics and actions which ultimately

During the tragedy, Macbeth, the main character, or tragic hero, encounters a battle with his wife and the supernatural. More specifically, he faces Lady Macbeth and the “weird sisters” (1.3 32) in a journey in which he loses his sanity and his life. William Shakespeare illustrated these three witches with emphasis on hideous and evil features in order to show how negative influence acts as an internal conflict. Whereas Lady Macbeth was presented as ambitious and manipulating, leading to Macbeth’s external conflict and unfortunate end. His portrayal of women is undoubtedly negative.

Lady Macbeth, a leading character in William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Macbeth, progresses throughout the play from a savage and heartless creature to a delicate and fragile woman, having no regard for mortality.

Lady Macbeth is a complex and intriguing character in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. She is a difficult character to embody as her personality seems split between two sides, one that is pure evil, sly and conniving in contrast to her softer, vulnerable, weak and feminine side. In the play we see her in these two main ways. The reader may feel a certain animosity towards Lady Macbeth throughout the first few acts as her personality appears more and more distasteful, in spite of this towards the end she has a serious breakdown over the guilt that torments her, even in her sleep, regarding her hand in Duncan’s untimely death.

The Tragedy of Macbeth opens in a desert place with thunder and lightning and three witches who are anticipating their meeting with Macbeth. Macbeth is greeted by the witches with "hail to thee, thane of Glamis," "thane of Cawdor," and "thou shalt be king hereafter!" When Ross and Angus arrive with news of Duncan's reward ("He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor"), it is logical for Macbeth to assume that all of the weird sisters' prophecies will come true. At this point in the play there is no guilt felt.

Lady Macbeth expresses her strong desire to become queen. She instantly devises a plan to kill Duncan and plants the idea in Macbeth’s head. Here, this depicts Lady Macbeth’s antagonistic side. She baits Macbeth by saying he lacks courage and that she wishes the spirits would “unsex [her] here and fill

In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth , Macbeth’s wife, is a very tragic character. She plays a very masculine role, even more masculine than the main male role: “She so dominates the scenes in which

    William Shakespeare's tragic play Macbeth presents the fizzled drive of an ambitious husband and wife. This essay is the story of their destructive ambition.

The analysis of each character’s fears and responses present how each of their fears lead to differences in reasoning, motives, and choices. With Lady Macbeth, fear of weakness drives herself and through her, Macbeth, to what she perceives as “manly”, leading to Duncan’s murder when the couple conspire to usurp the throne. However, fear runs both directions, and towards the end of the play, the horror of their crimes leads Lady Macbeth to descend into madness. Like Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s fears also lead him to lose his ability to live well. By the end of the play, he seems unbothered by morality and ethics- it is the fear of losing power makes him waver before he completely loses himself to greed, seeing no other option but to keep

Thus the sense of the unnaturalness of evil is evoked not only be repeated explicit references ("nature's mischief," "nature seems dead," " 'Tis unnatural, even like the deed that's done," and so on) but by the expression of unnatural sentiments and an unnatural violence of tone in such things as Lady Macbeth's invocation of the "spirits" who will "unsex" her, and her affirmation that she would murder the babe at her breast if she had sworn to do it. (95)

Subservient, ignorant, passive, timid: these are the qualities that described the ideal 17th century woman in the eyes of Europeans. In the play Macbeth, author William Shakespeare explores the roles of these women through his female characters, challenging preconceived notions and setting up his personal perspective on what a woman's niche in society truly is. Through his contrasting female characters of the gentlewoman and Lady Macduff versus the witches and Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts the reality of how women actually function is society.

Thus the sense of the unnaturalness of evil is evoked not only be repeated explicit references ("nature's mischief," "nature seems dead," " 'Tis unnatural, even like the deed that's done," and so on) but by the expression of unnatural sentiments and an unnatural violence of tone in such things as Lady Macbeth's invocation of the "spirits" who will "unsex" her, and her affirmation that she would murder the babe at her breast if she had sworn to do it. (95)