How does Shakespeare present the character of Macbeth, compared to the character of his wife Lady Macbeth, in Act I, Scene V, VI and VII?

Shakespeare presents the character of Macbeth very differently compared to the character of his wife, Lady Macbeth, in Act I, Scene V, VI and VII. Shakespeare has seemed to swap the genders of these two characters; Lady Macbeth appears to control her husband and is very manipulative. Macbeth on the other hand, does whatever his wife wants as he appears to be very weak.

Lady Macbeth is a very strong character. She often orders everything and people obey. For example, she says to the messenger, “Give him tending.” The word, “Give,” is an imperative verb, and Shakespeare has used it to show the audience her power. If I were directing an actress (or actor) playing Lady Macbeth, I would tell them to say this kindly, but with a hint of order; this would show the audience her authority. An ordinary woman with authority in the 16th century, would be seen as very strange and not normally accepted, consequently displaying Lady Macbeth’s importance. Lady Macbeth’s power would easily explain how effortlessly she can manipulate her husband.

Lady Macbeth has recently heard great news in Act I, Scene V: her husband will one day become king. I think Shakespeare has then used this news to alter Lady Macbeth’s persona into one which is evil and wicked; one that has become overwhelmed with greed. “Unsex me here... and take my milk for gall.” This quote shows how deceitful the character of Lady Macbeth really is. Here she related to how she wants her mother’s milk to be turned into poisonous acid (bile), and wants to become a man to carry out such a wicked act – murder. The way she mentions the word, “milk,” shows how Lady Macbeth is trying to say she once was a kind and nurturing person – as milk related to how a woman feeds, nurtures and loves a child. Yet now, she wants this kindness to be turned into poison, to make her evil.

During Scene VI, Lady Macbeth appears to be very kind and welcoming to King Duncan. “All our service in every point twice done and then double.” The character of Lady Macbeth lures King Duncan into a false pretence by ensuring him that she will do anything he wants. Shakespeare has used dramatic irony through this line which builds the tension throughout the scene – the audience know that Lady Macbeth is pretending to be nice, in order to relax and clam Duncan, before killing him.

Although Lady Macbeth has just summoned the murderous spirits to modify her personality in scene ...

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Although Lady Macbeth has just summoned the murderous spirits to modify her personality in scene V – “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here...” – I believe that Lady Macbeth is still a kind woman, who just wants the best for her husband. And to help her husband, she must persuade him to carry out a sinful act. However, the character of Lady Macbeth says “I have given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me.” This quote proves that Lady Macbeth has once loved a child and cared for it. She describes the experience very vividly, which in my mind, shows that she misses the feeling of having a child. However, Shakespeare does not want the audience to feel sorry for Lady Macbeth, instead he has used this quote to show how manipulative Lady Macbeth is. Macbeth is probably the father of this child, and therefore Lady Macbeth is attacking his memory, and breaking him down, in order to persuade him to kill Duncan.

The sentence after this quote can be seen as very controversial. “And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.”This could be seen as evidence that proves Lady Macbeth is more than evil. The fact that Lady Macbeth would be prepared to do such an awful thing for power shows the true side of her. She describes this depiction of infanticide so vividly to as not acceptable; to commit an act such as this is everything against humanity. Someone wanting to kill their own flesh and blood would not be accepted in today’s society, let alone in the 16th or 17th century, or the 11th century when Macbeth existed. This could be said as the most brutal and visual thing that Lady Macbeth or anyone else has said in the whole play. However, it could be argued that Macbeth never wants to do this, but she is just explaining her point. However gruesome it may seem, all of this may just be to persuade her husband. Macbeth swore to do this, yet now has gone back on his word, making Lady Macbeth angry.

Lady Macbeth is very powerful, manipulative as well as being evil or kind, depending on how you look it. However, on the other hand, her husband, Macbeth, is the very opposite. He is a loyal, and honourable soldier, yet weak, indecisive and subservient.

In Scene V, Macbeth only speaks very briefly. In Scene VI, Macbeth says nothing, and in VII Macbeth only has one large section. For example: “Tomorrow, as he purposes,” “We will speak further,” “If we should fail?” The amount of lines the character of Macbeth has, compared to his wife indicates that Lady Macbeth is mainly in control through these three scenes. It also shows that Macbeth may be afraid of his wife and holds back from talking in depth with her about anything. The effect this has on the audience is great; it shows them the hold Lady Macbeth has over him. It may also show how easy it would be to make Macbeth do anything anyone wants him to do.

When Lady Macbeth insults him and questions his masculinity, Macbeth just shrugs it off and answers in one sentence, in order to change the subject, preventing further insults. “We will speak further.” This may show that Macbeth is actually a strong character. The fact that he can just ignore his wife’s comments and can change the subject with one sentence without getting angry, proves that he could actually be cunning and defensive.

In Scene VII, when Macbeth is alone and talking to the audience. The weakness of Macbeth’s character begins to show. “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well done quickly.” Macbeth appears to be very indecisive. He keeps questioning everything. The word, “quickly” shows that Macbeth just wants to get it over and done with; this backs up the fact that he worrying and becoming weaker and weaker. Macbeth says, “If it” which shows the audience that he does not know whether or not to carry out this act and is very uncertain. He is meant to be the stronger one out of him and his wife, and tell his wife what to do, rather than being the one being told what to do.

In conclusion, I think Shakespeare has presented the Lady Macbeth and Macbeth very differently. He has done this by using manipulative techniques for Lady Macbeth, and making Macbeth seem weak by being persuaded by his wife. The fact that Macbeth was convinced by his wife to carry out a murder, even after he decided not to go ahead with it, and listed a number of reasons for this, makes me think that Macbeth really is a weak character. Macbeth should be the stronger person out of the two, yet Lady Macbeth appears to take his place. Lady Macbeth and her husband, Macbeth, are very different characters.