Lady Macbeth Character Analysis Essay
4/1/14
Analysis: Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is the epitome of an ambitious woman who will do anything, including murder, to get what she wants. She is very calculating, and this is very evident when she plots to murder King Duncan. She methodically manipulated her husband, Macbeth, into believing it was the right thing to do in order for him to become king. During the time period that this play was written, women were viewed as weak and demure individuals who rely on the strength of their male partners. Lady Macbeth defies this characterization of women by taking on the role of a strong, sinister individual who used her husband as an accomplice to commit murder for her own gain. However, even the most sinister individuals can develop a conscience …show more content…
Prior to committing the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth exhibits a strong and determined disposition and was resolved in carrying out the murder. However, after seeing how her influence has transformed Macbeth into a ruthless monster that would kill anyone in his way, she began to agonize over the negative influence she had on him. Lady Macbeth was profoundly affected by her transgressions as evidenced by her persistent sleepwalking and talking in her sleep. During one of her sleepwalking episodes she said, “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” (Macbeth 5.1.47-49). She was imagining that she could smell Duncan’s blood on her hands. This underscores the importance of guilt and how it can contribute to our downfall and even our demise.
Lady Macbeth showed conflicting loyalties to family and the extent to which she would commit murder. Her morals had prevailed just before the murder as revealed through her comment that she would have killed Duncan herself had he not "resembled her father as he slept". This statement showed that she did have some boundaries on who she could murder as part of her evil plots. However, when Macbeth was hesitant to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth stated that she would have killed her own infant child than to back out of a plan. This showed her ruthless nature that contrasts with the statement she made about her
Analysis: Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is the epitome of an ambitious woman who will do anything, including murder, to get what she wants. She is very calculating, and this is very evident when she plots to murder King Duncan. She methodically manipulated her husband, Macbeth, into believing it was the right thing to do in order for him to become king. During the time period that this play was written, women were viewed as weak and demure individuals who rely on the strength of their male partners. Lady Macbeth defies this characterization of women by taking on the role of a strong, sinister individual who used her husband as an accomplice to commit murder for her own gain. However, even the most sinister individuals can develop a conscience …show more content…
Prior to committing the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth exhibits a strong and determined disposition and was resolved in carrying out the murder. However, after seeing how her influence has transformed Macbeth into a ruthless monster that would kill anyone in his way, she began to agonize over the negative influence she had on him. Lady Macbeth was profoundly affected by her transgressions as evidenced by her persistent sleepwalking and talking in her sleep. During one of her sleepwalking episodes she said, “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” (Macbeth 5.1.47-49). She was imagining that she could smell Duncan’s blood on her hands. This underscores the importance of guilt and how it can contribute to our downfall and even our demise.
Lady Macbeth showed conflicting loyalties to family and the extent to which she would commit murder. Her morals had prevailed just before the murder as revealed through her comment that she would have killed Duncan herself had he not "resembled her father as he slept". This statement showed that she did have some boundaries on who she could murder as part of her evil plots. However, when Macbeth was hesitant to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth stated that she would have killed her own infant child than to back out of a plan. This showed her ruthless nature that contrasts with the statement she made about her