How does Shakespeare present lady Macbeth? In what
William Shakespere wrote Macbeth around 1606 for King James VI.
Macbeth involves 3 witches who make prophecies for Macbeth about taking the throne. Ambition and desire drive Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to kill King Duncan. Later Banquo is killed due to Macbeth?s greed for the throne and jealousy of it being taken away and Lady Macbeth appears to go mad and die. Macbeth is then defeated. These themes of murder, ambition, greed and desire appear throughout the play among others. These themes are factors towards the portrayal of Lady Macbeth and contribute to changes that take place in her character and also how the audience responds to this.
I will explore how Shakespeare uses these themes among other things to present Lady Macbeth?s character and how she changes throughout the play to the audience.
Lady Macbeth?s character does not, initially conform to the typical role of women, especially in the 17th century when women weren?t even allowed to act on stage. However perhaps a more modern audience may see her character differently due to increasing equality and the role of women in the 21st century. I will be exploring how roles in society affect the audience?s response as well.
The audience?s initial impressions of Lady Macbeth are from her first entrance where she is reading a letter from Macbeth. This he ?thought good to deliver? to her who is his ?dearest partner of greatness?. The fact that Macbeth writes her a letter informing her of his business with the witches gives the audience an initial impression that Lady Macbeth plays an important role in their relationship, for him to feel that he must automatically tell her the news suggesting that she has power over him and that she has the right to know. Even Macbeth before this point does not mention Lady Macbeth when she appears with the letter. This is similar to how the 3 witches just appear and ?vanish in mist?, indicating that perhaps Shakespeare was trying to initially portray Lady Macbeth as similar to a
Macbeth involves 3 witches who make prophecies for Macbeth about taking the throne. Ambition and desire drive Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to kill King Duncan. Later Banquo is killed due to Macbeth?s greed for the throne and jealousy of it being taken away and Lady Macbeth appears to go mad and die. Macbeth is then defeated. These themes of murder, ambition, greed and desire appear throughout the play among others. These themes are factors towards the portrayal of Lady Macbeth and contribute to changes that take place in her character and also how the audience responds to this.
I will explore how Shakespeare uses these themes among other things to present Lady Macbeth?s character and how she changes throughout the play to the audience.
Lady Macbeth?s character does not, initially conform to the typical role of women, especially in the 17th century when women weren?t even allowed to act on stage. However perhaps a more modern audience may see her character differently due to increasing equality and the role of women in the 21st century. I will be exploring how roles in society affect the audience?s response as well.
The audience?s initial impressions of Lady Macbeth are from her first entrance where she is reading a letter from Macbeth. This he ?thought good to deliver? to her who is his ?dearest partner of greatness?. The fact that Macbeth writes her a letter informing her of his business with the witches gives the audience an initial impression that Lady Macbeth plays an important role in their relationship, for him to feel that he must automatically tell her the news suggesting that she has power over him and that she has the right to know. Even Macbeth before this point does not mention Lady Macbeth when she appears with the letter. This is similar to how the 3 witches just appear and ?vanish in mist?, indicating that perhaps Shakespeare was trying to initially portray Lady Macbeth as similar to a