That made you break this enterprise to me?
When you durst do it, then you were a man.
And to be more than what you were, you would
Be so much more the man.” (act I scene VII)
We can see from this quote that that Lady Macbeth is manipulative and persuasive as Lady Macbeth uses most of the techniques of persuasion in this speech. This quote also shows her determination and that she has power over her husband.
“I may pour my spirits in thine ear
And chastise with the valour of my tongue.” (act I scene V)
This quote shows her ambition and her power over her husband.
“And shalt be
What though art promised;”
(act I scene V)
In this quote she is being supportive and is encouraging Macbeth.
“Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures, ‘tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil.”
And the quote:
“A little water clears us of this deed.
How easy it is then.”
(act I scene II)
Shows that Lady Macbeth is strong, it also shows her confidence. As Lady Macbeth is strong enough to go back to put the daggers, it shows her bravery and courage.
Many people wondered whether Lady Macbeth's motive for killing King Duncan had only been for her own selfish reasons. I think Lady Macbeth does want Macbeth to be king, not for her own reasons, but to make her husband happy. She is very supportive towards her husband.
To prove my opinions I used this quote,
“Thou wouldst be great.”
In this quote Lady Macbeth is praising her husband because she supports him and wants his happiness.
“Come you spirits.”
(act I scene V)
In this quote I think that Lady Macbeth is not either influenced by witches or calling witches, but is calling her inner evil spirits. I think this because I believe that everyone has a spirit inside them. A good one to help them do good, and an evil one to help them do evil.
Just before Lady Macbeth’s death, Lady Macbeth's character changes.
Lady Macbeth was unloved and ignored; this caused her to become mad. She also became careless enough to unconsciously tell the truth about what happened on the night of King Duncan’s death; to the doctor and maid. Also all the guilt from this night caused her to become weak.
We are first introduce to Lady Macbeth in Act I scene V, in which she is reading the letter that Macbeth had sent her about the meetings of the witches. From after reading the letter Lady Macbeth shows herself being strong and ambitious. This also supports my view on Lady Macbeth before the murder of King Duncan.
The 1917 filmed production of Macbeth was directed by Polanski and the actress who played Lady Macbeth was Francesca Annis.
For Act 1 Scene V the setting used is Lady Macbeth on the battlements of the castle. Lady Macbeth is alone on top of the battlements. This has the effect of Lady Macbeth needing to be alone to think. It makes the viewer think Lady Macbeth likes to be on top and in control of everything.
Lady Macbeth is wearing a traditional, long, flowing dress. Polanski makes her look less feminine and like a normal person not a queen.
During the speech in the first half there is no movement. The effect of this is that it makes us think Lady Macbeth is thinking and preparing for the arrival of King Duncan. Though there is no movement her hair is blowing in the wind. This shows that though she may look really strong and in control she is actually really vulnerable and not so much in control. In the second half of the speech she is running downstairs to meet Duncan, this makes her seem eager.
The camera work in this production is started with Lady Macbeth filling the camera, and then an over the shoulder shot of Duncan arriving, finishing with Lady Macbeth going down the stairs to greet Duncan.
In Polanski’s production the voice over on the first half of the speech may make us think she is not calling on witches, but calling on her inner spirits. Having Lady Macbeth on the battlements makes her look stronger and in control.
This production If I was to make a production I would choose to make it like Polanski’s as it supports my idea on what I think Lady Macbeth was before the murder of King Duncan.
The witches prophecies may have made Macbeth first think of murder, but after Lady Macbeth reads his letter she encourages Macbeth to go along with the murder.
Macbeth’s ambition had made him think of murder but he had tried to dismiss the thought, but his love for his wife made him listen to her. Lady Macbeth pushes him into doing the murder by calling him a coward and saying he had no determination.
Though Macbeth did kill the king we can see he did not want to and also felt guilty about it. All the guilt made him hallucinate and see daggers everywhere.
After the murder is done we can see Macbeth is feeling really regretful about the murder. At this point we can see that Macbeth could not have done the murder without the help of his wife.
Lady Macbeth had shown no doubt or suspicion in the witch’s predictions, which then led her to encourage Macbeth into doing the murder of King Duncan.
Lady Macbeth was told about the murder in Act 1 Scene V yet by Act 1 Scene V11 she has already thought of a plan. This shows that she has been thinking of the murder. Lady Macbeth does all the planning yet she only doesn’t do the actual killing.
Looking at all this evidence I can say that though Macbeth’s ambition and the witch’s prophecies held a big part in the murder, Lady Macbeth was the main cause of the murder. Yet though she may be guilty for the murdering of King Duncan, Lady Macbeth only did this for the happiness of her husband. Keeping this in mind I believe Lady Macbeth is not evil.
Lady Macbeth’s death was due to her becoming mad near the ending.
After the murder she had felt no guilt or remorse. She says, “A little water will clear us of this deed,” like it was nothing big. However by the end of the play the guilt catches up.
She had become entirely focused on the murder, not even allowing herself to think they might fail, which then with the guilt made her mad and later on to her own death.
Finally I would like to conclude that Lady Macbeth was a strong, ambitious woman who was loved by her husband very much, until her own actions led her to her death.
