i lady macBeth dy Macbeth i a Scottish noblewoman married to Macbeth, Thane of Glamis. A driven and fnyeligent woman, she bas a_ mutually loving land respectful relationship with Macbeth. Their ‘marriage has not between without tragedy, however. In Act I itis revealed that they once had an infant child, who presumably died. Lady Macbeth recalls breastfeeding the baby and the love she had for her child "Thave given suck, and knov/ How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me (7545) Lady Macbeth is ambitious both for herself and for her husband. AS a woman in medieval Seotand, however she has few outlets frlver own ambition her role i look ater her husband, run the household, and be the perfect hostess or guests such as Duncan, Sie believes, however, that Macbeth would be a great king, and that ‘sovereign sway and masterdem’ is within their rasp.) She soos ita her jb to help “Macbeth to overcome his innate “human kindness tnd todo what i necessary t take the theone (8) THE DOMINANT FORCE INTHE COUPLES MARRI > FOCUSED AND DETERMINED Lady Mocbeth isan extremely focused, determined tnd decisive woman. We sce these tits from hee very frst appearance in Act 1 Scene 5. As soon as she hears about the Witches’ prophecies, she decides, that Macbeth ‘shalt be) What thou are promised! (05123) She doest waste ay time wondering about ‘whether the Witches can be trusted or even if they really have the gift of prophecy. Instead, she accepts ‘Macbeth’ story at face valueand immediately begins Plotting hov they might win the throne, suggesting that she has been dreaming of attaining power for some time. No longer content to bea thane's wife, she sts her sights on thegolden round! 525) Lady Macbeth sees it as hor role to help Macbeth to-do what is necessary to become king, even if that involves murdering Duncan. She immediatly bogins to guide her husband towards taking the crown, Telligly, her very fist words to him are about the kingship: Greater than both by theal-hal lady maceth ag veal ng ‘oranion rnin cbly nt ee hereafter 1.552 Knowing that her husband is not ‘natural Killer she takes it on herself to plan the ‘murder: ‘you shall pul This night's great business nto my diate 15645) ‘She stress the importance of remaining. calm fand pretending that everything is normal even though they're planning a terrible crime: look. ke ‘Winnocent flower, But be the serpent under’ 15022) When Duncan arrives at the caste, Lady Macbeth welcomes him with perfect hospitality and ceremony, displaying her steely resolve and focus. So convincing is her performance that Duncan is blissfully unaware that his ‘Fair and noble hostess! is plotting his murder. (125 Lady Macbeth is at her most steong-illed, practical and focused on the nigh of the murder: ‘+ Fis she spikes the drinks of Duncar‘s guards rendering them practically comatose: “have drugged their possets/ That death and nature 40 contend about then Whether they live or ‘de? 226-9) This allows Macbeth easy access to Diancars room ashe sleeps + When Macbeth accidentally brings the bloody kaives from the crime scene, and refuses 10 return ‘hem, Lady Macbeth dest panic: She decides to retutn the daggers hersalf, saying that she has no qualms about seeing Duncan’: murders corpse: ‘the dead) Are but as pictures2.2529) She will even smear Duncan’ blood on the sleeping guards to implicate them If he do bleed Tl gid the faces of the grooms withaly Forit must sem thee guilt’ 225¢0) + She urges Macbeth to clean the blood from his hands togetrid of the evidence or “ity witness “got some water And wash this filthy witness from your hand 2246-9 In an effort to calm Macbeth down, she keeps emphasising, how straightforward and foclprof their plan is ‘A litle water clears us ofthis deed. How easy is it then” 2.28 + When they hear the knocking on the gate, Lady Macbeth stresses. the importance of returning to their bedroom and. putting on their nightclothes, so that they can pretend they were asleep when Duncan was murdered: “Get ‘on your nightgown, lest occasion call us/ And show us tobe watchers Inthisearly phase ofthe pay, Lady Macbeth displays nerves of steel. While Macbeth is shaken and gui stricken, Lady Macbeth hold it together and gets them both through Duncan's murder Ironically, the couple will switch roles as the play progresses, with Macbeth becoming desensitsed to his violent acts, and Lady Macbeth slowly succumbing to the sheer horror of what they've done Lady Macbeth’s forceful determination is notable fom the night of the murder. We get the sense tha, ‘without his wif's incredible drive and ruthlessness, Macheth would never have killed Duncan. In order to shame her husband ito commiting the murder, sho rakes the drastic lim that she would never break promise the way he did. Even ifshe had sworn to kil her ov chil, she claims, she would follow through om it rather than break her wor: T would, while i was smiling in my face/ Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums) And dashed the brains out, had Iso sworn As you have done to this! She is also the one who comes up with a plan to implicate Duncan's guards for the murder, thereby allowing Macbeth to escape suspicion:"What not put pon His spongy officers, whe shall bear the guilt (OF our great quell” (17713) Lady Macbeth knows thatthe guards will most likely be pu 0 death fr Killing Duncan. She will cause the deaths of two more innocent men, bringing the total number ‘of deaths for which she is responsible to three. So Futhlessly determined is she however, that this ddoes't mater She considers the spangy officers’ as scceptable collateral damage (1272 Macbeth is deeply impressed by his wits steely Aelermination or ‘undaunted mettle (1.779 Echoing Lady Macheth’s wish tori herself of er forininity fn Act 1 Scene 5, ne suggests that her nature is $0 tough and ruthless that she could never give birth toa gitk “Bring forth men-children only) For thy ‘undaunied metle should compose) Nothing but males. (77.5) > RUTHLESS AND CALOUS Lady Macbeth’s ambition Is matched only by her willingness to do what is necessary to achieve her {goals When she hears the Witches” prophecies, she Fefuses to wait and ce if they come tue f Macbeth might be cleted bing after Dunean’s natural death Instead, she is determined to ‘catch the nearest way’ to power by commiting treason and murdering Dunean. As soon as she hears that Dunean is staying at their ctl, she iimed ately begins ploting his murder "The raven himeel is hoarse! That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan/ Under my battlements (1535-5 ‘The same ruthless determination is evident when she tells Macbeth that Duncan will not survive the night: ’0 never Shall sun that morrow see! Her willingness ~and even eagerness ~ to commit murders chiling However, Lady Macbeth’s ruthlessness does not come naturally to her It's as if she wishes she was tore ruthless then she really is. This is why she feels the need to iavoke evil spits to help her with the murder, calling on these ‘murding ministers’ to strip her ofall decency and remorse. (1545) AS @ ‘woman, she feels held back by her innate feelings of empathy and compassion She specifically asks these evil spirits to “unex r,t rd her of all feminine ‘Qualities which she thinks will only hinder her in her pursuit of power. 13) She also wants to be Tid of her conscience, so that she wont ser any Built ater murdering Duncan: ‘Stop up tvaccess land passage to remorse’. She is willing tally herself with hel andthe forces of darkness in order to achieve her ends. (5475)Lady Macbeth callousness is most evident fn the scene directly after the murder. She has no patience for her traumatised husband, telling Macbeth that he {foolish to regard the blood on his hands as sorry Sight 229-0) She is unshaken by the sight of the blood on Macbeths hands or bythe sight of Duncans bloody corpse: the sleeping ane the dead Are but as pictues" the eve of childhood That feats a painted evil’ 2204) Far her, the blood is fa fom a sorry sight isa sign that they've accomplished their goa There is sill a sense, however, that deep down, Lady Macbeth Is not the ruthless, cold-blooded Killer that she aspires to be She thought that she was ready, willing and able to Kill Duncan herselt, if necessary. However, when she saw him sleeping a8 she was drugging the rooms, he reminded her of her ovn father. “Had he rot resembled/ My father as he slept, Thad done’! (2215+) In this ‘moment she realises she is unable to Jul Duncan herselé. Despite all her allows, ruthless statements, Lady Macbeth cannot help but empaths with her victim on some level > AMASTER NANPULATOR Perhaps unusually fr the time, Macbeth considers his wife an equal partner. He confides in her and consults withher on important maters, asevidenced by the fact that he writes to her immediately after meeting the Witches In many cases, Lady Macbeth isthe more assertive partner inthe marriage. We got the feeling that she is good a talking her husband around to her point of view: Knowing that Macbeth is not by nature a cold-blooded killer, she langs for “Macbeth to come home so that she can convince him to murder Duncan: “Hie thee hither/ That I may pour my spirits in thine ear’ 5225) ito eet Sees ! 1s significant that i's Lady Macbeth, and not her I husband, who frst voices theida of killing Duncan. “Macbeth mentions murder i his soliloquy in Act I i Scene 3,but Lady Macbeth s the frst to speak openly about killing the king: © never) Shall sun that marrow see" (5525) IS almost as if Lady Macbeth ee ol eae recy Seer re) Poetry Pent een ee en eat, eaten ere aa ees perry ereralry has read he: husband's mind. He doesnt put such of a defence 19 her suggestion that Du must be ‘provided fr, only saying that thy shoul ‘speak further’ 0560-9 Lady Macbeth suggests tap he simply leave all the planning ofthe murder ap her: you shall put/ This night’ great busines inp my dispatch... Leaveall he rest 0 me! 5 Lady Macbeth instructs her husband on how he ‘should beave as they plt the crime even giving ‘hm advice on his facial expressions ‘According 10 het, Macbeth yea his heart on his sleeve, Anyone can tll what he's thinking by looking at him: "Your face: my “Thane, is as a book where men) May read stange Imatiers. (15294) She stresses that as they prepare to murder Dunean, he must be careful not to give sway any siga of their murderous intentions. He should imitate those erourd im and pretend to be having a great time: to begulle the time/ Look like te ime! a hal ‘When Macbath does finaly try to put a stop to the murder, Lady Macbeth reveals herself a= a master ‘onipulator She atacks Macbeth sense of manhood ‘nd sense of sl, pushing his buttons uni he finaly grees to ge along with her plan. Lady Macbeth ‘accomplishes this with a numberof diferent tactic: * She accuses him of being al talk and no action ‘She compares him to a detnkard who makes ll kinds of threats and promises when he's under the influence, only to try to back out af it when Ine wakes‘green and poe witha hangover. 17 Macbeth is no better than this pathetic figure, Lady Macbeth claims, if he tries to back out of killing Duncan. 7359 ‘+ He is afi to admit what he really wants and too cowardly to do what needs to be done to achieve his goals: ‘Art thou afeard/ To be the samein thine own actand valour) As thou artin sire?” 0.7391) According to Lady Macbeth, by refusing to kill Duncan, Macbeth is refusing 1 ‘admit who he truly + She compares him toa searedy eatin a famousLADY MACBI u a) }ETH’S TIMELINE folktale, who wanted to snatch fish from the river Dut was afraid to gett feet wet. (744 + Lady Macbeth also appeals to her husband's masculinity, which, as 3 warsiog, Macbeth prides himself on: daze do all that may become a 740) However, Lady Macbeth claims that “Macbeth will only be areal man when he has {he stomach toll Duncan and claim the throne When you durst do i then you were a man’ 749, AS king,,.Macheth would achieve true greatness, becoming ‘so much more the man! than he was before. (720 ‘fp pile yet more pressure on hee husband, Lady Macbeth emphasises the fact that this might be their only opportunity to seize the throne, It isnot often that the king spends a night under their roof this might be the only tise Duncan will ever beso close si hand and so vulnerable I Macbeth passes up this {golden opportunity, she says, he'll be lft cursing his ‘owardie forthe rest of his lie:"And live a coward inthine own esteem. 743) It is notable that Macbeth bogins Act 1 Scone 7 insisting ‘We will proceed no Further in thisbusiness, but iy lines later finds himself agreeing to carry out the murder Tam sete! 73, 80) This demonstrates the force of Lady Macbeth’s will and personality, and te formidable influence she has over her husband ES > MISERY Being queen is nothing ike Lady Macbeth thought it ‘would be Despite having achieved her greatest desire she is work-weary and unhappy:’NoughtS had, alls spent When our desires got without content 2 ‘She even thinks they'd be beter off dead than living in this constant dread. 227.) However, she keeps up 2 brave fsade fr Macbeth, telling him not to dwell ‘on the past ‘wha’ dong is done”. > LOSING CONTROL n the early parts of the ply, as we noted, Lady Macbeth appeared tbe totaly in control of er husband. In Act 2 Scene 3, however, this control begins t0 sip. We see this when Macbeth maker the impulsive decision to murder Duncans guards, something, as far as we know, that was never in the original plan. Foe the first time, Macbeth acts without consulting his wite Macbeth's impulsive act immediately raises the suspicions of Macduté Wherefore did yous? 200) “Macbeth lunches ntoa lang winded and convoluted speech, offering fim excuse for iling the guards before they could be questioned about their alleged crime. At this moment, Lady Macbeth conveniently faints:"Help mehence, ho! 2) Perhaps Lady Mocbethis reacting with genuine shock at Macbet rash ations. More likely, however, she is attempting to cause a distraction before Macbeth can implicate himself further. We can view this as fan attempt by Lady Macbeth to regain control of 2 Situation that is quickly sipping out of hand, [AS Act’3 goes on. we se a certain role reversal begin to take holdin the marriage. AS Macbeth becomes more confident it his ations, Lady Macbeth begins fo take more of aback seat, I's if, after the murder ‘of Duncan, all her energy is spent. She no longerMacbeths evil deeds \Wesce this wen Macbeth hins that he plans tohave Banquo and Fleance killed. Initially Lady Macbeth ‘opposes the plan as if she doesnt have the stomeeh for further murder: "You must leave this 02.8 She only reluctantly and wearily agrees to participate ‘What's to be done 27 We sense hat she is almost relieved when Macbeth decides to leave her out of i advising her tobe “innocent of the knowledge" 0 16) At this juncture in the play, we sense Lady Macbeth is happier o possess such innocence of ignorance content to not know about the ‘ed of dreadful note that her hs mand has arranged. 6247 The banquet scene presents us with Lady Macbet ast great show of strength inthe play. The sight of Banca’ ghost causes Macbeth to sy things that might immpleat him in Bangucts murder: Thou canst not say Tdi it~ never shake Thy gory locks ‘Once more, Lady Macbeth steps into take contr ofthe situation. She tells the gusts that this is nothing to be that Macbeth hasan ongoing condi to have occasional fit “St worthy Friends my lord is often ths And hath been from his worried abo vic causes him 288 youth’ (.4534)She cleverly advises them to dire stention away rom Macbeth: ‘Ifyou much note You shall fer im. repped him not Lady Mach to convince the 1 work is cut out for erin hiss hat ft the same time cal Macbeth dow, Juss she di before Duncan murder, she crit in order to control his be 31.9) She also tres using logic to snap him out of reverie, pointing out that Banquo ghost sit real “When You Took but 02 2 sto0 1 .)She va iantly tries to keep the party going Bu fventually admis defeat and asks the guests to leave Que there = done speak not; he grows worse and worse om enrages him ~ ‘When the gussts have left, we got a sense of how exhausted Lady Macbeth is by the effort of keeping tp appearances She is 100 tired to for almost expesing ther in front of their guests. usband's dark and scold Mache She listens fassvely to her bloody musings, only offering an occasional remark i) Thaugh she showed some of her ol spark and force of wll a the banquet, the effort has left Lady Macbets drained. hiding their ‘murders has taken its toll, and she Is no longer the frinicabe fore of nature that she was in Act> GILT AND MADNESS Utimately, Lady Macbeth’ attempt t0 “unsex’ ferself does not work, (15340 She is unable to keep from feeling remoese for her crimes, and i depicted in Act5as boing haunted by those that she and her husband killed [Act 5 Scone 1 graphically demonstrates how Lady Macbeth crimes have caught up with her. She has hecome so consumed by guilt that her sanity is rumbling. She spends her nights sleepwalking and talking in her slep, under constant surveillance by 2 Doctor and 2 Gentleworan or nurse. She exits Several strange behaviours inher slep: + She is afraid to sleep without a light at her bedside ‘she has light by her continual ts her command. 333 + Asshe slepwalks, Lady Macbeth writes and seals ites, Though the content of these eters is never vealed, we can assume she's writing confessions to the murders shes been involved in. 336 + She frantically rubs her hands in he sleep, trying lesperately fo remove the blood tha she imagines still stains her skin: Yet here's sp (129 Lady Macbeth is convinced that her crimes have amined her soul, Her insistence on light by her bedside seems like 9 feeble attempt to keep the darkness of hell at bay: Hell is murky’ (125 The Doctor remarks on Lady Macbeth’ obvious distress: “The hear is sorely charged’ a) Each night she is doomed to relive her crimes as she sleepwalks, recalling the horror ofeach murder in tuer + ist, she remembers the grisly stene of Duncan's murder “Yet who would have thought the old ‘man tohave had so much blood in him: (12-3), + She expresses remorse for Macduff family, ‘murders she was not ditectly involved in "The Thane of Fife, had 2 wife ~ where is she ‘+ Sherelivesthemomentatthe feast when Macbeth ‘nw Banguo's ghost‘tell you yetagain Banquo’s buried; he cannot come aot ons grave! 148 ‘The contrast between the sleepwalking. Lady Macbeth and the Lady Macbeth of Acts 2 and 3 ‘could not be starker The scene is full of small ‘+ Where once she rubbished Macbeth’ Fear that he would Skep no more, she nov spends her rights in a disturbed state somewhere between sleep and waking + Once she remarked on hows easy it would be to wash Duncars blood from their hands. 2.267) Now shecaritseem ord herhandsofher victim! blood: Here'sthe smell ofthe Bleod still. 1.") + After Duncans murder, she warned Macbeth not to think too much about what they had done: it will make us mad (22:0) lonically, she Is now thecone who has succumbed to madness. Whats done, ie done; Lady Macbeth told hee husband in Act § Scene 2, urging him to put their ‘crimes out of his ning 253) Now as she sleepwalk, she echoes that tatement ‘What's dane, cannat be tundone’ 1 Bu where once these words struck ws ss pragmatie perhaps even ruthless now we imagine thom charged wih sorrow and regret, with a desire to tur the clock bck and undo thes tribe crimes > CONCLUSION In Act 5 Scene 5 iis revealed that Lady Macbeth is dead, having taken her own life ot of guilt for her Her husband, who once referred to her as my dearest partner of greatness 1.58 ean barely summon up the energy to mourn for hee She should have died hereafter/ There would have been 8 time for sich a word’. 51799 She is remembered with hate, Malcolm referring to her as a fiend-lke Queen something less than human. 6935) I's a tragic end for a formidable and dynamic woman. Just like her hustand, she is destroyed by ambition, Lady Macbeths tagedy is that she overestimates her ‘owncapacitytocemmitevildeedsardlivewithherset inthe aftermath She believes that she is capabeo the tliat ruthlessness, of Blocking up the access and passage to remorse. 15a) She finds, however, that her conscience remains stubbornly active once the ‘adrenalin rush that accompanies Duncans murder ‘islpates She tums out tobe no heartless villa, who can casually cary out a murder and then sit down ‘comfortably for inner. Instead she is someone who ‘at help being aaunted by her crimes tothe point where she cessestofreton as aluman bing, 27