Part A –
Analyse the character Lady Macbeth in the play “Macbeth”. How does she reflect the time in which the play was written?
During the Shakespearean era woman were treated as objects which would have been passed down from a father to a husband, men were seen to have full ownership of a woman. Men were seen as the superior sex. During this era, there was a large divide in equality between both male and female sexes. Young females were constantly deprived of a decent education, and also from having a stable social life outside of their homes. From a young age woman grew up to learn to never aspire to be anything more than a housewife who would bare children and tend the home, it was the man’s role to go out and earn a keep for his family, this would add to the males superior status.
Lady Macbeth is first introduced to the audience in Act One Scene 5. The scene opens with Lady Macbeth reading a letter from her husband; this is significant as it shows to the audience the extent of communication between Lady Macbeth and her husband. Within the letter Macbeth says “my dearest partner of greatness” this sustains the imagery of their strong relationship, and also gives the audience a sense of equality between both sexes. As soon as Lady Macbeth has read the letter her mind is instantly set on doing whatever it takes to ensure that Macbeth becomes king. She immediately decides that she will have to kill Duncan, during this era this was known as treason and if ever found out of killing a king, and going against your country you will be sentenced to death. Now that Lady Macbeth knows what she has to do we become aware of her unfeminine nature which is deeply rooted with inside her “unsex me here….Come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall.” Lady Macbeth is asking that everything that makes her a woman should be taking away from her as she should no longer be classed as a woman. The audience is now aware that Lady Macbeth doesn’t fit the role of a typical Shakespearean woman due to her harsh outspoken words and also the ruthless nature of the words which are spoken. When Macbeth enters Lady Macbeth greet him by saying, “Great Galmis, worthy Cawdor, Greater than both by all-hail hereafter” Macbeth has just returned from fighting a battle and Lady Macbeth greets her husband with a hero’s welcome. There is a use of repetition of “my dearest” which strengthens the meaning of the sense of equality between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth which was seen as usual during this era. Lady Macbeth exceeds her role of a woman by persuading her husband that they must do what it takes to make their future better, “this ignorant present, and I feel now the future in the instant.” When Lady Macbeth is aware that King Duncan is on his way to the castle she shows no hesitation, “look like the time,” she is telling herself to put on the appropriate appearance i.e of a welcoming host, this is a skill in which Lady Macbeth uses further within the play as she is instantly able to change her persona. In Act One scene six, Lady Macbeth sustains her role of the good hostess this gives an insight to the audience the extent of her deceitfulness.
