Discuss the Way in which Shakespeare Develops the Character of Lady Macbeth in "Macbeth".

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Discuss the Way in which Shakespeare Develops the Character of Lady Macbeth in “Macbeth”

        In Macbeth Lady Macbeth’s character changes throughout the play, from bold and domineering to full of despair. It would seem that Shakespeare portrayed her as a woman before her time, she was very commandeering over her husband, and this was unusual at the time the play was set.

        In Act I Scene 5, we first meet Lady Macbeth; she is reading a letter from her husband, Macbeth. He has just had his first encounter with the witches, and he is reporting back to her what they said. Lady Macbeth feels that she instantly understands what Macbeth wants to do, to hurry fate along, and kill King Duncan. Moreover she seems to know Macbeth’s character inside out at the beginning of the play, knowing that he is “too full o’th’milk of human kindness” to commit the murder under his own steam. She is a very ambitious woman, and it seems at this point in the play that she will stop at nothing to get what she wants; to become Queen. She now knows that it is within her grasp, and does not want anything to hinder her. When she hears of the visit from the King that evening she knows that this is the one chance they will get to kill him, and feels that it is fate. Therefore she calls upon spirits to “fill [her] from the crown to the toe topfull/Of direst cruelty;” she does not want her female attributes to stop her getting the one thing she desires. When Macbeth returns she wants to “pour [her} spirits in [his] ear” and that is what she does, manipulating him easily due to the fact she knows him so well. She often speaks in the imperative, ordering Macbeth, rather than asking him. In the next scene we see Lady Macbeth’s ability to lie, to “look like th’innocent flower, /But be the serpent under’t.” She welcomes King Duncan to her house, saying what an honour it is to have him there.

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        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. ...

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