Lady Macbeth Contradiction
Macbeth, albeit having male protagonists, portrays its female characters as powerful creatures, introducing the play with the Three Witches, the play’s representation of chaos and evil, and undeniably the cause of the chaos that ensues in the story. The play creates a motif, by shortly introducing us to Lady Macbeth, a ruthless, yet ambitious woman, who has substantial power and influence over her husband Macbeth. Later on during the play, we are acquainted with Lady Macduff, a huge contradiction to the play’s pattern of turbulent women. Her appearance, although short, serves to paint humanity on one of Macbeth’s victims, since she is presented as a motherly figured that we cannot help but sympathize with. Lady Macduff, along with Lady Macbeth,
…show more content…
Contrary to Lady Macduff, her power exists in her influence over her husband and inability to sympathize, to care for others. The most obvious contradiction to Lady Macduff is made apparent in one of the biggest character setting moments of the play, between Lady Macbeth and her husband. Lady Macbeth, in an attempt to force Macbeth into action after he hesitates in his plan to kill King Duncan, admits that if she had made a deal to kill her newborn baby, she would not falter in her promise, unlike Lady Macduff, who is introduced as a loving, protective mother.
Lady Macduff is involved in one of the very few parent-child scenes of the play, where her playful dialogue with her sons immediately contradict Lady Macbeth. Her entire personality is painted in this one scene, where her outspokenness against her husband’s disloyalty is expressed, unlike Lady Macbeth’s seemingly loving married life. Lady Macduff serves as a sympathetic figure that influences the reader into disliking Macbeth, who is later the cause of her murder, contradicting the reader’s negative opinion on Lady Macbeth.
Despite their fundamental personality differences, these two characters are not complete opposites. They both have husbands that at one point sought after power, and later disappointed them during their last
Contrary to Lady Macduff, her power exists in her influence over her husband and inability to sympathize, to care for others. The most obvious contradiction to Lady Macduff is made apparent in one of the biggest character setting moments of the play, between Lady Macbeth and her husband. Lady Macbeth, in an attempt to force Macbeth into action after he hesitates in his plan to kill King Duncan, admits that if she had made a deal to kill her newborn baby, she would not falter in her promise, unlike Lady Macduff, who is introduced as a loving, protective mother.
Lady Macduff is involved in one of the very few parent-child scenes of the play, where her playful dialogue with her sons immediately contradict Lady Macbeth. Her entire personality is painted in this one scene, where her outspokenness against her husband’s disloyalty is expressed, unlike Lady Macbeth’s seemingly loving married life. Lady Macduff serves as a sympathetic figure that influences the reader into disliking Macbeth, who is later the cause of her murder, contradicting the reader’s negative opinion on Lady Macbeth.
Despite their fundamental personality differences, these two characters are not complete opposites. They both have husbands that at one point sought after power, and later disappointed them during their last