The Multifaceted Character Of Lady Macbeth

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

Lady Macbeth is a very egocentric woman. She fails to have any concern over Macbeth’s interests, and she does not consider his decisions. This lack of care for her husband is shown many times throughout the play, and it is more predominantly shown in the first two acts. Lady Macbeth believes that Macbeth has the same viewpoints as her. Because of this, instead of asking if he wants to do something, she tells him what they are going to do. If Macbeth tries to protest against her thoughts or actions, she convinces him to believe in her and do as she says using a variety of tactics. Lady Macbeth does not have Macbeth’s best interest at heart because she manipulated him, she took matters into her own hand,

In Act 2 of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth can be characterized as determined, by using any method to kill Duncan - even if it’s in his sleep, and also by doing whatever she has to do to cover up the very bloody evidence of the murder.

In our society, as a rule, the man is the head of the household. However, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth appears to be the neck that turns the head. William Shakespeare is one of the greatest writers in history, but he wasn’t recognized until the nineteenth century. He wrote many plays, sonnets, plays, and narrative plays. It was during the sixteenth century that he wrote the tragedy of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth, wife to the protagonist Macbeth, is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and evil female characters. At the start of the play, Lady Macbeth is ruthless, ambitious, cruel, and manipulative; however, by the end of the play she becomes insane and helpless. The transformation of these characteristics makes Lady Macbeth a very dynamic

When Shakespeare first presents Lady Macbeth in the play, we believe that she was an ambitious woman who was driven to get power at all costs. We are irresolute however as to whether she is part of a chain of events in the evilness going around the source. The first words we from her mouth are her husband’s word, which he wrote on his letter, showing us that she was the agent of his thoughts. Women in that period of time, were running a household, producing heirs for their husband and taking care of them, this is not the case for Lady Macbeth as she involves herself in social affairs. Her drive for power is what makes them so successful in their deceitful plans. The play shows us that there is a unique chemistry between two individuals which rare in that period as marriage was usually arranged. She is essentially what keeps the force going as she guides Macbeth and teaches is him how to be manipulative. Even though the crime that they had committed was treason she was simply past the point of caring as she believed she had nothing to lose as she was childless and she had no emotional fulfilment as a woman. She is superfluous and nothing less than reigning alongside Macbeth can feel this hole.

Some actresses see Lady Macbeth as sympathetic to her husband like Sarah Siddons and Kate Fleetwood, feeling sympathy for Macbeth is a decision both actresses made for Lady Macbeth to be relatable and more human, Siddons who portrayed her in the mid-1800s said that she approached her as, “keen to present the character in as attractive a light as possible, so sexually appealing – fair feminine, nay perhaps even fragile” (Sarah Siddons qtd. In Robert Miola, 94). Siddons saw the character of Macbeth as honorable and to have him as a husband only proves Lady Macbeth is very taken with him, having put all of her efforts into seducing such an honorable man. Kate Fleetwood’s own interpretation of Lady Macbeth was very domestic, the societal hostess. In an interview in 2011, Fleetwood who was directed by her husband Rupert Goold in the 2007 version of the play said that, “When Rupert suggested to me about the domestic side of her, that started to ring really big bells for me” (Fleetwood qtd. In Miola, 135). The argument about how Lady Macbeth truly loves her husband and tried to summons the spirits is because she knows that Macbeth is very ambitious, and she needs all the strength she can have to convince him to act out the three witches’ prophecy. This arguement and its solution is very valid, Lady Macbeth only acting out for the benefit of her husband, she wants her husband to be the king of Scotland but it does not mean she wants to queen herself. In an interview, Fleetwood also

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play which depicts the tragedy of Macbeth. This play also shows that the process of Macbeth losing everything in his life such as trusts from the people who protect him such as Banquo, by having too much desire to become a king. In this play, Macbeth is always centered, but the readers have to remember that Lady Macbeth, who is a wife of Macbeth is one of the most interesting characters in the play. Lady Macbeth is often said that she is evil, and also she was much stronger and brave, ruthless than Macbeth. However, she is not actually evil and stronger and brave, ruthless as people say. This paper will be focusing on the reason why Lady Macbeth was not actually evil and strong, by focusing her characterization.

Manipulation, greed, narcissism, desire, impulsivity, paranoia, lack of empathy. These are the words often used to describe a sociopath. Sociopaths use these traits to fulfill desires and gain power. They do not retain or possess empathy for anything, and although it may seem like they care, the relationship is superficial and often toxic. In Macbeth, the relationship between Lady Macbeth and her husband is not only damaging but is also toxic to those around them. While Macbeth may exhibit sociopathic tendencies, the true sociopath is Lady Macbeth. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth shows how her sociopathic behavior shaped the story through her use of manipulation used to coerce Macbeth, the impulsivity of these actions, and the paranoia that follows them.

A king needs a queen, but a queen does not need a king. Frightening, ruthless, ambitious and atrocious; one may be offended to be described as such. However Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth is not only all of these attributes but also the most realistic and plausible character to not only have existed. But to be a self-projection in which these attributes reside in all of humanity and society as a whole. Lady Macbeth is Macbeth’s wife.

Lady Macbeth The Multifaceted character One can say that lady Macbeth is multifaceted ,because throughout the book she shows signs of different sides to her personality and was always changing her thoughts. To a large extent lady Macbeth is multifaceted as in the beginning of the play , Macbeth sends Lady Macbeth a letter about the witches equivocations. She then becomes ambitious and when Macbeth returns she starts convincing Macbeth to kill king Duncan through mocking his manhood. This is seen in the quote “when you durst do it,” “then you were a man”. This shows that only once the witches had given their equivocations she only then became ambitious to become queen.

account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and

Step 1: Character Interpretation This interpretation would be a paradox because it shows how controlling and affectionate Lady Macbeth is. While Lady Macbeth was forcing Macbeth to kill Duncan at the same time she was filling his head with affection. While she would tell Macbeth that she would stick by him no matter what and always love him she did so with sinister intentions in mind so that she could become Queen. Step 2: Setting Interpretation I would picture Lady Macbeth in a dark towering castle.

Macbeth is a very complex character whom reflects man's thirst for power through the drastic changes of his personality; thus being one of the slightest reasons in which make this intriguing character, greatest of all Shakespearean’s well-known works.

Lady Macbeth’s changes a lot throughout the play. She is a very evil character. Her ambition to be queen leads to the death of her and her husband. Lady Macbeth is a strong, determined and evil woman.”That I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valor of my tongue”(1.5.29-30). Lady Macbeth is introduced in Act 1 Scene 5 where she is told of Macbeth’s meeting with the witches. She shows multiple sides of her personality early on in the play. Her talent for being weird and manipulative were shown as soon as she asked for her womanly characteristics to be replaced with more manly ones “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here”(1.5.47-48).

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.