lady macbeth character development essay

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Lady Macbeth is possibly Shakespeare’s most famous and vivid female character. Everyone, whether they have read or seen the Macbeth play , has a view of her. She is generally depicted in the popular mind as the epitome of evil, and images of her appear over and over again in several cultures. She is usually portrayed in pictures as something like a Disney character, a cross between Cruella DeVille and the wicked stepmother in Snow White.

Although she has some of the most bloodthirsty lines in Shakespeare she is not quite Cruella De Ville or the wicked stepmother. The response she gets from the male characters suggests that she is a young, sexually attractive woman and, indeed, in her effort to influence Macbeth, she uses every method at her disposal, including the employment of her sexual charms.

She is usually depicted as a strong, tough woman and, in her drive to induce Macbeth to murder King Duncan, she appears to be that, but, having succeeded, it does not take long for her to crumble and break down, destroyed by guilt, and she ends up committing suicide.

Shakespeare does not have any evil characters. What he has are ordinary human beings, like you and me, placed in situations that challenge and test them. Some of them, like Iago in Othello , have personality defects, but that’s rare in Shakespeare and it’s not the case with Lady Mcbeth.

The challenges that Shakespeare presents his characters with generates different responses from different people. Lady Macbeth’s challenge is that she discovers that her husband has been tempted by an encounter with three witches to do something about their prediction that he will become king. She knows that the king would have to die for that to happen. When she gets a message that King Duncan plans to spend the night with them at Glamys Castle it seems to confirm the thought that they would have to kill him and that this was their once in a lifetime opportunity. That’s the situation into which she has been thrust.

She is as ambitious as Macbeth but she knows that for all his bravery in battle, all his soldierly and diplomatic qualities, he is basically much too soft –“too full of the milk of human kindness” – to take advantage of the opportunity. She makes up her mind to make him do it.

And she is right about his lack of resolve – they talk it over and he tells her that he just can’t do it. She goes into high gear and virtually holds his hand through it. One of her strongest qualities is persistence and she shows it here. Macbeth hesitates, equivocates and falters but she holds firm. She argues the case, she mocks him, bringing his manhood into question, she appeals to his sense of loyalty to her, she takes him to bed, and she finally prevails.

Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep and from that moment their marriage begins to fall apart. They each fall into their own guilt-trip and hardly speak to each other. As king, Macbeth fears his political enemies and embarks on a reign of terror while Lady Macbeth stays in bed, unable to sleep, having nightmares when she does manage it. While walking and talking in her sleep she gives the game away about what they have done and sinks into a moral, physical and spiritual collapse. When Macbeth is on his last legs, with the rebels closing in, he gets the message that she’s dead. At that point, he says he doesn’t have time to think about it. “She should have died hereafter,” he says. Their partnership in this murderous enterprise has destroyed their marriage.

The promise of strength that we see in her at the beginning of the play is an illusion. What we are seeing is naked ambition and a willingness to act on it without having the resources to deal with the consequences. We see how guilt can eat up your soul and destroy you. We see how hollow ambition is, both in her journey and Macbeth’s. (Read the most  significant Macbeth ambition quotes .)

Character attributes

Some significant character attributes of Lady Macbeth are:

• Controlling – she understands that her husband doesn’t have the savageness required to murder the king of his own accord, so she manipulates him. She plans out the murder, then takes control of events when Macbeth loses his mind.
• Cruel – she is a violent, cold-blooded character who is happy to scheme the murder. She ridicules Macbeth when he doesn’t agree to participate in her violent plans.
• Two-faced – she welcomes King Duncan like a friend whilst at the same time planning his murder. She also advises Macbeth to be two-faced.

Erika Sunnegårdh as Lady Macbeth

Top Lady Macbeth Quotes

“I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness

( act 1, scene 5 )

“To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.”

“ The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements”

“Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

“Would’st thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage? “

( act 1, scene 7 )

“I have given suck, and know 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.”

“ Out! damned spot! “

( act 5, scene 1 )

Read more Lady Macbeth quotes .

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Common Questions About Lady Macbeth

Is lady macbeth a true story.

Although Shakespeare used the names of real historical people in writing Hamlet, the events of the drama are mostly made up. So in that sense, Lady Macbeth is not a real character. There was an 11th-century Scottish king named Mac Bethad Mac Findlaich . Presumably, he had a wife but we know nothing about her.

What kind of character is Lady Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth is ambitious. She is manipulative and uses several techniques of a skilled manipulator to entice Macbeth into the murder of Duncan. Usually thought of as a hard, ruthless woman, she is, in reality, soft. Not long after the murder, unable to cope with her guilt, she falls apart and loses all sense of herself.

What happens to Lady Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth tries to prop her husband up as he descends into a guilt-ridden hell but she soon falls victim to the same condition. Her whole life literally becomes a nightmare, in which she relives the event that has brought her condition about. Her life becomes unbearable and she commits suicide.

Who does Lady Macbeth kill?

Lady Macbeth does not personally kill anyone. She conspires in the murder of the king, Duncan, though, and actively encourages Macbeth to kill him. It is Macbeth who does the actual killing. Lady Macbeth plays no part in the many further killings that Macbeth engineers. Soon after the killing of Duncan the two don’t even talk to each other.

What made Lady Macbeth go crazy?

Lady Macbeth is partly responsible for the kind of killing that was taboo in Mediaeval Scotland – murdering one’s king, murdering one’s relative and murdering a guest in one’s house. In killing Duncan the couple did all three. She begins to have nightmares about the murder and, in particular, the blood on her hands, which she can’t get rid of no matter how hard she scrubs. That drives her to suicide.

How does Lady Macbeth feel after the killing of Duncan?

Once Duncan is killed Lady Macbeth is pleased that her ambition to be the wife of a king has been achieved, but that feeling very soon turns sour as guilt begins to eat away at her. She then she has feelings that she can’t live with, and ends up killing herself (one of 13 suicides in Shakespeare’s plays ).

Is 2016 film Lady Macbeth based on Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth character?

No. Lady Macbeth is a 2016 British film based on Nikolai Leskov’s novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District , and starring Florence Pugh.

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• Act I: Scene 1
• Act I: Scene 2
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• Act I: Scene 4
• Act I: Scene 5
• Act I: Scene 6
• Act I: Scene 7
• Act II: Scene 1
• Act II: Scene 2
• Act II: Scene 3
• Act II: Scene 4
• Act III: Scene 1
• Act III: Scene 2
• Act III: Scene 3
• Act III: Scene 4
• Act III: Scene 5
• Act III: Scene 6
• Act IV: Scene 1
• Act IV: Scene 2
• Act IV: Scene 3
• Act V: Scene 1
• Act V: Scene 2
• Act V: Scene 3
• Act V: Scene 4
• Act V: Scene 5
• Act V: Scene 6
• Act V: Scene 7
• Act V: Scene 8
• Act V: Scene 9
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Character Analysis Lady Macbeth

Macbeth 's wife is one of the most powerful female characters in literature. Unlike her husband, she lacks all humanity, as we see well in her opening scene, where she calls upon the "Spirits that tend on mortal thoughts" to deprive her of her feminine instinct to care. Her burning ambition to be queen is the single feature that Shakespeare developed far beyond that of her counterpart in the historical story he used as his source. Lady Macbeth persistently taunts her husband for his lack of courage, even though we know of his bloody deeds on the battlefield. But in public, she is able to act as the consummate hostess, enticing her victim, the king, into her castle. When she faints immediately after the murder of Duncan , the audience is left wondering whether this, too, is part of her act.

Ultimately, she fails the test of her own hardened ruthlessness. Having upbraided her husband one last time during the banquet (Act III, Scene 4), the pace of events becomes too much even for her: She becomes mentally deranged, a mere shadow of her former commanding self, gibbering in Act V, Scene 1 as she "confesses" her part in the murder. Her death is the event that causes Macbeth to ruminate for one last time on the nature of time and mortality in the speech "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" (Act V, Scene 5).

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Lady Macbeth as a Powerful Female Character in Shakespeare's Macbeth

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Published: Nov 19, 2018

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Table of contents

Introduction, the power of lady macbeth, works cited.

• Bradley, A. C. (2008). Shakespearean tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. Penguin Classics.
• Cavell, S. (2005). Disowning knowledge in seven plays of Shakespeare. Cambridge University Press.
• Garber, M. (2010). Shakespeare's Ghost Writers: Literature as Uncanny Causality. Routledge.
• Greenblatt, S. (2018). Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Howard, J. E. (2003). Shakespeare's art of oratory: Unpacking the power of persuasion in Macbeth. College Literature, 30(2), 112-130.
• Johnson, C. (2015). Lady Macbeth and the Daemonologie of Hysteria. Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, 45(2), 341-364.
• Kliman, B. (2008). Macbeth. Infobase Publishing.
• McEachern, C. (2013). Spenserian ambiguity in Macbeth. Journal of Medieval and Early Modern Studies, 43(2), 353-369.
• Robinson, T. (2017). Power in Macbeth. The Online Journal of New Horizons in Education, 7(3), 14-21.
• Shakespeare, W. (2010). Macbeth. Simon and Schuster.

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Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Shakespeare's most treacherous female villain fascinates readers

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Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most infamous female characters. Cunning and ambitious, she is one of the protagonists of the play, encouraging and helping Macbeth carry out his bloody quest to become king. Without Lady Macbeth, the titular character might never venture down the murderous path that leads to their mutual downfall.

In many respects, Lady Macbeth is more ambitious and power-hungry than her husband, going so far as to call his manhood into question when he has second thoughts about committing murder.

Masculinity and Femininity

Along with being Shakespeare's bloodiest play, " Macbeth " is also the one with the greatest number of outright evil female characters . Chief among them are the three witches who predict that Macbeth will be king and set the play's action into motion.

Then, there's Lady Macbeth herself. It was unusual in Shakespeare's day for a female character to be so boldly ambitious and manipulative as Lady Macbeth is. She's unable to take action herself, likely because of social constraints and power hierarchies, so she must persuade her husband to go along with her evil plans.

When Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan by questioning his manhood, Shakespeare equates masculinity with ambition and power. However, those are two qualities that Lady Macbeth possesses in abundance. By constructing her character in this way (with "masculine" characteristics), Shakespeare challenges our preconceived views of masculinity and femininity.

Lady Macbeth's Guilt

Lady Macbeth’s sense of remorse soon overwhelms her, however. She has nightmares, and in one famous scene (Act Five, Scene One), she tries to wash her hands of the blood she imagines has been left behind by the murders.

Doctor: "What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands." Gentlewoman: "It is an accustom'd action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour." Lady Macbeth: "Yet here's a spot." Doctor: "Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly." Lady Macbeth: "Out, damn'd spot! out, I say! — One; two: why, then 'tis time to do't. — Hell is murky. — Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt? — Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"

By the end of Lady Macbeth's life, guilt has replaced her incredible ambition in equal measure. We are led to believe that her guilt ultimately leads to her suicide.

Lady Macbeth is, therefore, a victim of her own ambition, which complicates her role in the play. She both defies and defines what it means to be a female villain, particularly in Shakespeare's time.

• The Theme of Guilt in "Macbeth"
• Top 5 Female Villains in Shakespeare Plays
• Macbeth Character Analysis
• Famous Quotes From 'Macbeth'
• Understanding Macbeth's Ambition
• The Roles of Women in Shakespeare's Plays
• The Top 6 Famous Shakespeare Characters
• Everything You Need to Know About 'Macbeth'
• Regan and Goneril Character Profile
• Why the 'Macbeth' Witches Are Key to Shakespeare's Play
• William Shakespeare's Most Famous Plays
• 7 Types of Female Characters in Shakespeare's Plays
• Richard III Themes: Power
• 'Macbeth' Quotes Explained
• 'Macbeth' Characters
• Shakespeare Tragedies: 10 Plays With Common Features

Lady Macbeth

Ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions, gruadh / rue / lady macbeth.

Catriona of Kinlossie

Duncan mac crinan, malcolm mac duncan, thorfin sigurdsson, king malcolm, lady sybilla, ketill bruisson, father anselm.

Lady Macbeth as Powerful

The essay below uses this simple structure:, an introductory paragraph to summarise an answer to the question, one paragraph about the extract, one about the rest of the play, one about context., lady macbeth:, the raven himself is hoarse, that croaks the fatal entrance of duncan, under my battlements. come, you spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full, of direst cruelty. make thick my blood., stop up the access and passage to remorse ,, that no compunctious visitings of nature, shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between, the effect and it come to my woman’s breasts,, and take my milk for gall , you murd'ring ministers,, wherever in your sightless substances, you wait on nature’s mischief. come, thick night,, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes,, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, to cry “hold, hold”, starting with this speech, explain how far you think shakespeare presents lady macbeth as a powerful woman., write about:, how shakespeare presents lady macbeth in this speech, how shakespeare presents lady macbeth in the play as a whole., the essay below is written using a simple structure:, an introductory paragraph to summarise an answer to the question., one paragraph about the extract., one about the rest of the play., before you read the answer below, why not have a think about how you'd answer this question. i've highlighted the quotes i'd write about - do you agree or would you focus elsewhere also, which sections from the rest of the play would you focus on and what contextual factors influenced lady macbeth's presentation, most importantly, though, have a think about how you'd write that opening paragraph - answer the question in two or three simple sentences., an example answer, during the majority of the play, lady macbeth is presented as being a powerful woman who defies the expected gender stereotype of the caring, soft, gentle female. by the end of the play, however, she kills herself as she discovers that although she can order the rest of the world around, she cannot control her own guilt, right at the opening of this speech, lady macbeth makes her position known when she describes “my” battlements. the use of the possessive pronoun emphasises that she thinks of the castle walls as being her own. she follows this by calling “come you spirits.” the use of this magic spell has two effects on the audience: firstly, she is calling for dark magic to come and support her. this would have reminded the audience of the possibility that she was a witch and had all the evil powers connected with them. also, she is using an imperative here: “come you spirits.” she’s not asking them but telling them. this shows that she expects even the supernatural world to answer to her demands. one of the things she demands is that they “stop up the access and passage to remorse.” this means that lady macbeth doesn’t want to feel any regret for what she is about to do, which would make her powerful. she is no longer going to be slowed down by feelings of compassion or care in her pursuit of power. finally, she says that the spirits should “take my milk for gall.” here, she is asking that her own milk be turned to poison. this suggests that she is turning something caring and supportive into something deadly, giving her even more evil powers. also, milk is pure white and suggests innocence and purity so lady macbeth is asking that what is innocent and pure about her gets turned into something deadly. throughout this speech lady macbeth sets herself up as being someone very powerful, who is able to control even the spirits., her power continues throughout the play. lady macbeth suggests the murder and talks macbeth into it – showing that she is powerfully persuasive. she also plans the murder, showing that she is intelligent as well. she also stays calm under pressure, such as when macbeth arrives with the daggers from the murder scene but lady macbeth returns them to the scene so that they don’t get caught. she is also able to manipulate macduff when she faints in shock after they discover duncan’s body. you could easily argue that lady macbeth’s ambition was more powerful than macbeth’s, and that the murder wouldn’t have ever happened with her involvement. she is determined to become powerful and will stop at nothing to get it. at the end the play though she is caught sleepwalking, and she confesses to all that they’ve done. this is interesting, however, as while she is sleep-walking she is not in control of herself so she is not really aware of what she’s doing. it could be the case that lady macbeth herself never felt guilty, though she couldn’t hide her real feelings from her dreams. in the end, she dies. malcolm claims that she killed herself quite violently, but since it happens off-stage we cannot be sure. what is clear is that although she could push macbeth around, and trick macduff, and even order the spirits to do her bidding, she couldn’t order the blood off her own hands., shakespeare presents a very powerful female character in lady macbeth, and although this would have been quite radical for people in jacobean england there were other powerful, female role models to choose from: bloody mary or queen elizabeth are good examples. this play, however, was written for king james who had just taken the throne of england, and james was not a fan of queen elizabeth – who had killed his mother, mary queen of scots (and he might not even have been a big fan of his mum, because she married the man who killed his dad) as a result, james would have enjoyed seeing this powerful woman become such a villain and then getting punished for her crimes..

Notes on Character Sketch of Lady Macbeth in English

Back to: Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Table of Contents

A Loving Wife

In the play, Lady Macbeth is the wife of the protagonist Macbeth and one of the most powerful presences of a female character in literature. 

She is introduced to us in the play reading a letter from her husband who calls her his “ dearest partner of greatness. ” It tells us of their successful partnership in life and love. 

She presents us the limitation which a woman faces who wants to achieve like a man in a culture fashioned after norms created by men for men. So, in her very first soliloquy, one can see her successfully describing the attributes of ambition normally reserved for a man and despairing over the fact.

Ruthless & Manipulative

Lady Macbeth is ruthless. She is equipped with the tools apt for acquiring power. She truly believes her husband will be crowned but she fears his nature which is “ full of the milk of human kindness .”

She suppresses everything traditionally aligned with femininity. In her own words, everything her husband lacks after the aid of fate and metaphysical forces, she makes it up with “ the valour of her tongue. ” 

In a very effective manner, she manipulates her husband out of calls of his conscience. The tools she employs is that of the female. She is perhaps more ambitious and power-hungry than Macbeth and in order to be so she is full of single-minded cruelty too. In a very conventional manner, she mocks the manhood of Macbeth which makes him override his moral hesitations. 

Anti-feminine

Her character tells us of the restraints imposed upon a female personality due to gender-based preconceptions. Her character is constantly trying to “ unsex ” itself and she asks spirits for her blood to “ make thick ” and “ stop up the access and passage to remorse .” In a very anti-mother way, she wants to stop having any feminine feelings and sensitivity.

The sharp non-conformity in her character brings her very close in similarity to the three witches in the play. She has an empowered sense to defy established authority, it is proved by the way she designs the murder of King Duncan without allowing any guilt or inhibition of fear.

A Powerful Lady

She has the faculty of power reserved for a man and when Macbeth questions his actions, she shouts, “ what beast wasn’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. ”

Towards the last two acts in the play, her strength gives in, her ambition descends into guilt and further into madness and death. The knowledge of misdeeds done by her husbands under her fast provocations disintegrates her psyche.

She finally confesses her crimes and her death shocks Macbeth into a realm in which he finally loses himself. The character of Lady Macbeth is the guiding support to the character of Macbeth.

Essays on Power of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Play "Macbeth."

A short summary of lady macbeth character in shakespeare play macbeth, attachments.

Lady Macbeth is a complex and fascinating character in William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. She is the wife of the play's protagonist, Macbeth, and plays a significant role in the events that unfold throughout the play.

At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a powerful and ambitious woman who is not afraid to take control of a situation. She is the driving force behind Macbeth's decision to murder King Duncan in order to fulfill the witches' prophecy and become king himself. She is portrayed as cunning and manipulative, as she uses her persuasive skills to convince Macbeth to commit the murder, even when he is hesitant.

Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth's character undergoes a significant transformation. As the guilt of their actions begins to weigh on her, she becomes increasingly tormented and unstable. She experiences vivid hallucinations and becomes consumed with guilt and remorse for her role in Duncan's murder. Her descent into madness culminates in her tragic suicide, which is a pivotal moment in the play's dramatic climax.

Lady Macbeth's character is also interesting for her gendered role in the play. As a woman in a patriarchal society, Lady Macbeth must navigate the constraints of her gender in order to achieve her ambitions. She is  aware of the societal expectations placed upon her and uses her femininity as a tool to manipulate and control Macbeth. However, her ambition ultimately leads to her downfall, and she is punished for crossing her boundaries.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth is a complex and compelling character whose actions drive the plot of the play. Her transformation from a powerful and manipulative figure to a tormented and guilt-ridden woman is a tragic  exploration of the human psyche. Additionally, her gendered role in the play highlights the societal expectations placed upon women during Shakespeare's time, and the consequences of challenging those expectations.

Here, you can find downloadable resources which contain essays written by GCSE students on lady Macbeth's characters.

• GCSE Essay about Lady Macbeth
• A pack of 6 sample essays written by GCSE students on character of Lady Macbeth

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Development of the Character of Lady Macbeth

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Join now to read essay Development of the Character of Lady Macbeth

It is a difficult task, to discover the essence and origin of a character and their trends, which so often surprise us by their existence where we least expect. Therefore, from what is known about Lady Macbeth is what should be written about her character. Lady Macbeth is amongst the most essential of characters in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Upon her introduction in Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth is brought into the plot of the play.

If I was asked to describe the lady in one word it would be ambitious. A person who collapses on reaching success, after striving for it with single-minded energy, is the figure of Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth. She fulfills her role among the nobility and is well respected like Macbeth. King Duncan calls her "our honored hostess." She is loving to her husband but at the same time very ambitious, as shown by her immediate determination for Macbeth to be king. This outcome will benefit her and her husband similarly. She immediately concludes that "the fastest way" for Macbeth to become king is by murdering King Duncan.

She goes through a drastic change in the play. At first there is no hesitation, no sign of any internal conflict in her, no dispute, but that of overcoming the principles of her ambitious and yet tender-minded husband. She is ready to sacrifice even her femininity to her brutal intention, she asks the dark evils to “unsex” her and take all the traits of a human conscience, which lie within her. Without reflecting on the crucial part, which this womanliness must play when the question afterwards arises of preserving the aim of her intention, which has been attained in the course of a crime.

She makes Macbeth kill his beloved king by taunting him and insulting him by using words such as “coward” and also says “I fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness”; We see that, like Adam who gave in to Eve’s urging, Macbeth falls into the same trap, which eventually leads to their downfall as a couple. She did not comprehend that her nature is very similar to Macbeth’s at the start. Although later on she admits that she could not kill Duncan herself because he, “resembled her father while he slept”. This proves to the reader that she still has her womanly instincts and outlook, which shows us that the so-called spirits do not exist. It was all in her head but she only began to realize this later on in the play.

The lady understands her husband well and has the power, and ambition, which he lacks. She allowed this aspiration, not for herself but for her husband, to overcome her and afterward even destroy her life, and her husbands furthermore; which in time lead to their death. On various occasions in the play, she takes charge of the situation. For example in Act two, scene three after Duncan is murdered and all tension is upon Macbeth and she faints (or pretends to faint)

Macbeth – A* / L9 Full Mark Example Essay

This is an A* / L9 full mark example essay on Macbeth completed by a 15-year-old student in timed conditions (50 mins writing, 10 mins planning).

It contained a few minor spelling and grammatical errors – but the quality of analysis overall was very high so this didn’t affect the grade. It is extremely good on form and structure, and perhaps could do with more language analysis of poetic and grammatical devices; as the quality of thought and interpretation is so high this again did not impede the overall mark. 

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MACBETH EXAMPLE ESSAY:

Macbeth’s ambition for status and power grows throughout the play. Shakespeare uses Macbeth as an embodiment of greed and asks the audience to question their own actions through the use of his wrongful deeds.

In the extract, Macbeth is demonstrated to possess some ambition but with overriding morals, when writing to his wife about the prophecies, Lady Macbeth uses metaphors to describe his kind hearted nature: “yet I do fear thy nature, / It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness”. Here, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a more gentle natured being who is loyal to his king and country. However, the very act of writing the letter demonstrates his inklings of desire, and ambition to take the throne. Perhaps, Shakespeare is aiming to ask the audience about their own thoughts, and whether they would be willing to commit heinous deeds for power and control. 

Furthermore, the extract presents Macbeth’s indecisive tone when thinking of the murder – he doesn’t want to kill Duncan but knows it’s the only way to the throne. Lady Macbeth says she might need to interfere in order to persuade him; his ambition isn’t strong enough yet: “That I may pour my spirits in  thine ear / And chastise with the valour of my tongue”. Here, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a manipulative character, conveying she will seduce him in order to “sway “ his mind into killing Duncan. The very need for her persuasion insinuates Macbeth is still weighing up the consequences in his head, his ambition equal with his morality. It would be shocking for the audience to see a female character act in this authoritative way. Lady Macbeth not only holds control of her husband in a patriarchal society but the stage too, speaking in iambic pentameter to portray her status: “To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great”. It is interesting that Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth in this way; she has more ambition for power than her husband at this part of play. 

As the play progresses, in Act 3, Macbeth’s ambition has grown and now kills with ease. He sends three murders to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, as the witches predicted that he may have heirs to the throne which could end his reign. Macbeth is suspicious in this act, hiding his true intentions from his dearest companion and his wife: “I wish your horses swift and sure on foot” and “and make our faces vizards to our hearts”. There, we see, as an audience, Macbeth’s longing to remain King much stronger than his initial attitudes towards the throne He was toying with the idea of killing for the throne and now he is killing those that could interfere with his rule without a second thought. It is interesting that Shakespeare presents him this way, as though he is ignoring his morals or that they have been “numbed” by his ambition. Similarly to his wife in the first act, Macbeth also speaks in pentameter to illustrate his increase in power and dominance. 

In Act 4, his ambition and dependence on power has grown even more. When speaking with the witches about the three apparitions, he uses imperatives to portray his newly adopted controlling nature: “I conjure you” and “answer me”. Here, the use of his aggressive demanding demonstrates his reliance on the throne and his need for security. By the Witches showing him the apparitions and predicting his future, he gains a sense of superiority, believing he is safe and protected from everything. Shakespeare also lengthens Macbeth’s speech in front of the Witches in comparison to Act 1 to show his power and ambition has given him confidence, confidence to speak up to the “filthy nags” and expresses his desires. Although it would be easy to infer Macbeth’s greed and ambition has grown from his power-hungry nature, a more compassionate reading of Macbeth demonstrates the pressure he feels as a Jacobean man and soldier. Perhaps he feels he has to constantly strive for more to impress those around him or instead he may want to be king to feel more worthy and possibly less insecure. 

It would be unusual to see a Jacobean citizen approaching an “embodiment” of the supernatural as forming alliance with them was forbidden and frowned upon. Perhaps Shakespeare uses Macbeth to defy these stereotypical views to show that there is a supernatural, a more dark side in us all and it is up to our own decisions whereas we act on these impulses to do what is morally incorrect. 

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Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare’s Enigmatic Powerhouse

This essay offers an in-depth exploration of one of Shakespeare’s most complex characters, Lady Macbeth, from the play ‘Macbeth.’ It begins by highlighting her unique position in Elizabethan literature as a character who defies traditional gender norms with her overwhelming ambition and strength. The essay delves into her famous “unsex me here” soliloquy, which sets the stage for her role as a driving force in Macbeth’s rise to power, showcasing her willingness to abandon morality for ambition.

As the narrative progresses, the essay examines the transformation of Lady Macbeth from a figure of control to one tormented by guilt, particularly evident in her sleepwalking scene. This shift underscores Shakespeare’s skill in creating psychologically complex characters. Additionally, the essay discusses the evolving dynamics between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, emphasizing the psychological toll of their actions.

Concluding with reflections on her enduring legacy in modern interpretations, the essay positions Lady Macbeth as a timeless figure in Shakespeare’s canon, continuously fascinating audiences with her depth and complexity. This exploration not only sheds light on her character but also on broader themes of gender, power, and morality in literature. Additionally, PapersOwl presents more free essays samples linked to Lady Macbeth.

How it works

When diving into the works of Shakespeare, few characters captivate and intrigue as thoroughly as Lady Macbeth from the Scottish play, ‘Macbeth.’ Often regarded as one of the Bard’s most complex and enigmatic figures, Lady Macbeth’s character has been the subject of extensive analysis and debate. She defies the conventional expectations of women in Elizabethan literature, simultaneously embodying strength, ambition, and a deep-seated vulnerability.

At her introduction, Lady Macbeth is presented as the driving force behind her husband’s ascent to the throne.

Her ambition is palpable, so strong that it appears to eclipse Macbeth’s own. This fierce determination is most vividly captured in her chilling “unsex me here” soliloquy. Here, she calls upon dark forces to strip her of feminine weakness and fill her with cruelty, underscoring her willingness to abandon gender norms and morality for power. This scene sets the tone for her character – a woman who defies the patriarchal expectations of her time, wielding influence over her husband and the events that unfold.

However, Lady Macbeth’s strength and resolve are not one-dimensional. As the plot progresses, her initial ruthlessness unravels, revealing a profound psychological complexity. The guilt from her actions manifests in the famous sleepwalking scene, where she desperately tries to wash the imagined bloodstains from her hands. This shift from a figure of immense control to one haunted by the consequences of her actions offers a window into the psychological realism Shakespeare infuses in his characters. It’s a portrayal that humanizes Lady Macbeth, portraying her not just as a figure of ambition and power, but also as a person grappling with guilt and moral disintegration.

The dynamics of her relationship with Macbeth also serve as a critical aspect of her character. Initially, she appears to be the dominant force, goading Macbeth into committing regicide. However, as the play progresses, their relationship undergoes a dramatic inversion. Macbeth descends into tyranny and paranoia, while Lady Macbeth becomes increasingly isolated and tormented by guilt. This transition highlights the psychological and emotional toll of their actions, serving as a poignant commentary on the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition and power.

In modern interpretations, Lady Macbeth has been portrayed in various lights – from a manipulative femme fatale to a tragic heroine crushed by the weight of her own ambitions. Her character continues to be a subject of fascination in theatrical productions and academic discussions. She stands as a testament to Shakespeare’s ability to create multifaceted characters that resonate across centuries.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth remains one of Shakespeare’s most compelling and debated characters. Her journey from a powerful, ambitious figure to a broken shell of guilt offers a rich study in character development and psychological complexity. Her role in ‘Macbeth’ challenges and expands the portrayal of women in literature, highlighting issues of gender, power, and morality. As audiences and readers continue to revisit and reinterpret her character, Lady Macbeth endures as a timeless figure in Shakespeare’s canon, captivating and intriguing with each portrayal.

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Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare's Enigmatic Powerhouse. (2024, Jan 16). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/lady-macbeth-shakespeares-enigmatic-powerhouse/

"Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare's Enigmatic Powerhouse." PapersOwl.com , 16 Jan 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/lady-macbeth-shakespeares-enigmatic-powerhouse/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare's Enigmatic Powerhouse . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/lady-macbeth-shakespeares-enigmatic-powerhouse/ [Accessed: 12 Apr. 2024]

"Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare's Enigmatic Powerhouse." PapersOwl.com, Jan 16, 2024. Accessed April 12, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/lady-macbeth-shakespeares-enigmatic-powerhouse/

"Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare's Enigmatic Powerhouse," PapersOwl.com , 16-Jan-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/lady-macbeth-shakespeares-enigmatic-powerhouse/. [Accessed: 12-Apr-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare's Enigmatic Powerhouse . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/lady-macbeth-shakespeares-enigmatic-powerhouse/ [Accessed: 12-Apr-2024]

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