Act I Scene 7, shows Lady Macbeth in a very manipulative and attacking way. When Macbeth tells her that he will not continue with the plan she is furious, she says that he made a promise and should not go back on it. She uses sadistic imagery such as smashing out her baby’s brains “had [she] so sworn/As [he had] done to this.” This really shows how evil Lady Macbeth is, and how persuasive and manipulating she is. All his points against treason and murder are very valid, however Lady Macbeth manages to demolish them when she questions his manhood. She really knows how to control Macbeth bullying him into committing the murder with her cunning use of chilling imagery. As Macbeth is already weakened by his growing ambition it is easier for Lady Macbeth to direct and lead him. In this scene we see how she is the driving force behind the murder of Duncan, as we see that it is her who is the devisor of the plan. She has no qualms about letting other people, the bodyguards of the King, “bear the guilt/Of [their] great quell.” During this scene, the way in which Shakespeare has written Lady Macbeth’s speeches with hard consonant sounds like “c”s.
We see another side of Lady Macbeth in Act II Scene 2, we see a more human side, she is anxious and jumpy, whilst waiting for Macbeth to return from the chamber of Duncan. This is indicated by the short words and broken sentences used by Shakespeare. “That which has made them drunk, hath made me bold;” Lady Macbeth obviously had a drink with the guards, to settle her nerves and fortify her courage. This makes us more aware of the fact that she is in fact human. She also tells Macbeth that if Duncan had not looked like her “father as he slept” she would have killed him herself. Lady Macbeth is frustrated that Macbeth has not completed the task as she had ordered him to, and rebukes him for worrying about voices he heard. This scene is very ironic, as she is scolding Macbeth for talking about feeling guilty, yet she ends up going mad with guilt. This is a very important scene, as we can see how Lady Macbeth seems to act differently around Macbeth, it is almost as though she cannot cope when she does not have someone to be in charge of. There is a lot of important imagery and language. In this scene there is a lot of mention of the washing of the blood off Macbeth’s hands, she wants him to “wash this filthy business from [his] hand.” Lady Macbeth seems to think that a small amount of water will wash everything away, but Macbeth feels that not even “multitudinous seas” can clean his hands.
Lady Macbeth again shows her ability to act in Act II Scene 3, she shows surprise when she hears that the King is dead. In this scene Lady Macbeth feints, there are two ways in which this could be thought of. She was either feinting to take the pressure off Macbeth, as she knew that he possibly could not cope with the pressure. However it could also be the first sign of her weakening under the burden and her initial female attributes returning to her.
There is a role reversal in Act III Scene 2, Lady Macbeth seems less in control. The way in which she asks to “attend his leisure” when asking to see Macbeth shows that she has become more of a passive, respectful wife. She would now seem like a more normal wife in the eyes of the Shakespearean audience. “Nought’s had, all’s spent” Lady Macbeth seems to regret ever forcing Macbeth to kill King Duncan, yet she is telling Macbeth not to brood over the events. Macbeth has started to hide things from Lady Macbeth, he has arranged the murder of Banquo, and he no longer seems to need the guiding hand of Lady Macbeth. She is starting to feel isolated, even thought Macbeth does still talk to her affectionately “dearest chuck”.
Act III Scene 4, this is the final scene in which we see Lady Macbeth take charge of the situation that she is in. The banquet, which should have been a harmonious occasion, was disrupted, much like Scotland at the time. The banquet showed that Lady Macbeth is still alert to weaknesses in Macbeth, and is still able to protect him. Lady Macbeth doesn’t mingle at the banquet, and only says what is polite, as she is Queen. This shows that she is weakening in public situations, and is becoming more of a typical wife of that time. When Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost, Lady Macbeth knows immediately that something is wrong, showing her closeness to Macbeth. She is obviously weakening, but still has the power in her to arise to the situation. Lady Macbeth doesn’t rebuke Macbeth for what happened at the Banquet again showing her character becoming infirm. In this scene we first see how exhausted Lady Macbeth must be.
In this scene, Act V Scene 1, Lady Macbeth completely breaks down we see her sleepwalking. We experience all the pressures that have been building up, her mask has been taken off and we can fully see into her mind and thoughts. She is reliving the murders in her dreams, showing the full extent that they have troubled her, and they plague her. This scene shows a very clear mental breakdown of Lady Macbeth, there are a number of points to notice in particular. Firstly, she seems obsessed with the past even thought she said “what’s done is done”, however it is obvious that despite all her strength of purpose what has been done is very much in the present. Secondly, in this scene she constantly has her light with her, as if she is afraid of the darkness, whereas previously in the play she is welcoming a “blanket of darkness” to cover her crimes. In this scene has many parallels and ironic reversals with Act II Scene 2, in scene two we hear her say, “A little water clears us of this deed” yet in this scene we see her washing her hands none stop, “will these hands ne’er be clean?” This is a role reversal, as it is Macbeth who previously states “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/Clean from my hand? No.” Her conscience has caught up with her, her being unable to get her hands clean in her dream indicates to us that she is full of despair, guilt and shame. Her mind has been taken over by the thought of what she has driven Macbeth to, and this has infected her thoughts and dreams. Shakespeare has written Lady Macbeth’s speech in prose, not iambic pentameter; it would seem that this is to show that she is not in control any more. Her issues are between her and God, and the Doctor cannot help her hindered mind. This is for what reason Lady Macbeth commits suicide (off stage) in Act V Scene 5.
Lady Macbeth is a complex and interesting character and Shakespeare has developed her well throughout the play. She has many sides to her personality, and was definitely a woman, and wife, before her time.