Character analysis of Lady Macbeth
"To metamorphose ones character through years of experience and age is salutary. To deteriorate ones character through a short period of fast decisions and unsure actions is perilous." Lady Macbeth gives truth to this theory. The impulsive mistakes and power-hungry tactics littered the journey Lady Macbeth paves throughout this play is ultimately her dramatic flaw. She feels overwhelmed by all that is happening, both physically and mentally, and decides to end her own life. The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare illustrates two seemingly ordinary nobles whose lives intertwine in a whirlwind of power, corruption, and the supernatural resulting in their descents. They both, so wrapped up in this greedy world, failed to consider the consequences of their actions and more realistically Macbeth started to succumb to the belief of deeds that he is about to perform is the right thing to do, "I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares do more is none" (Shakespeare 204). La!dy Macbeth in particular loses sight of rationality from the play's beginning to end. She creates an image of ruthlessness and believes she can handle the intrusion of unearthly evil in her mind and soul. She presents a seemingly stable foundation of contr
Illinois. Scott, Foresman and Company. 1997. 191-262. Wills, Gary. "The Historical Contest of Macbeth." Readings on Macbeth. Ed. Clarice ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Knights, L.C. "Poetry of Evil." Readings on Macbeth. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: The Greenhaven Press, 1999. 98-107 beth forward, is now no more than a minute spark. She is beginning to lose that controlling stiffness. She asks Macbeth, "what's to be done" (Shakespeare 319), which is a drastic change in control. She doesn't voice any opinions or plans of any sort for the rest of the play. Lady Macbeth is now in awe of Macbeth, a contrast to when Macbeth was in awe of Lady Macbeth's infanticide analogy. She, by the end of the play, has lost self-confidence by realizing that most of this situation is a result of her impulsiveness and instability. When Lady Macbeth finally recognizes her incompetence, all else crumbles, including her husband. The significance of this dramatic flaw secures her role as the foundation and authority in the beginning of the play, which plants the seed for failure from beginning to end (Wills 35). Swisher. San Diego: The Greenhaven Press, 1999. 30-38 Her shocking and persuasive effect on Macbeth convinces him that he is settled. By hearing a woman who seems to be fearless of his anxieties, he is soothed. But even here we begin to catch a greater glimpse of Lady Macbeth's very unstable mind. By using such a graphic description, she reflects her straining desperation for Macbeth's commitment. She knows that Macbeth is a strong person, and she must seem stronger to convince him to go along with her. She now has to wear a 'mask' of this determined and cold character, creating more distance between her true self and Macbeth (Knights 99). Lady Macbeth has the persuasive capable of humiliating someone into murder, but has no personal capacity to execute 'the deed,' though she spoke, at times, as if she would take the opportunity whenever it arose, "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't." (Shakespeare 212). Lady Macbeth imagines that she has ability to hide her true emotions, though her mind is as frail as an "e! Throughout the duration of play Lady Macbeth's truly decrepit and vulnerable nature is revealed. Lady Macbeth has been the iron fist and authority icon for Macbeth, yet deep down, she never carried such traits to begin with. This duality in Lady Macbeth's character plays a huge role in planting the seed for Macbeth's downfall and eventual demise. At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is introduced as a dominant, controlling, heartless wife with an obsessive ambition to achieve kingship for her husband. Her weak, sheltered, unsure and unstable condition is only revealed at the end of the play. However, the audience begins to see hints of this hidden nature by the manner in which Macbeth addresses her.
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1964
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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