Macbeth coursework: Compare and contrast the dramatic changes between lady Macbeth in act 2 scene 2 to act 5 scene 1

"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?"

We see how the killing really did scar her, which we certainly don't see in Act 2 Scene 2. She screams at the end which gives us a feeling of how isolated she is as she is crying to be heard. I think Shakespeare does this to create a lonely atmosphere while Macbeths away. It is similar in a way to when Macbeth believed that wiping the blood of his hand would make everything better. It shows the blood is symbolic as it represents the guilt of murdering King Duncan.

At the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth seems to take on a very different role to a typical women of that time. I believe in that time the husbands were always in control of their wives. This is rather a contrast to Macbeth and Lady Macbeths relationship at the start of the play. We see in the play that when Lady Macbeth greets King Duncan when he comes to visit. I think Shakespeare conveys to the audience that Duncan is surprised at this. Duncan addresses her as the hostess but request to be shown to the host. This was the same for all ladies no matter what social class. Ladies would never have been more dominant than the male in conversation. Shakespeare uses this stagecraft in the early part of the play to demonstrate her power .Earlier on in the play we hear Lady Macbeth say:

"I shame to wear a heart so white".

The Metaphorical language that Lady Macbeth uses is designed to have a certain effect on Macbeth. The words white and shame in particular allude to Macbeth's cowardice.

Lady Macbeth went from being an extremely powerful lady to dieing of stage. We see that in act 2 scene 2 that Lady Macbeth thinks she has control over Macbeth.

"Consider it not so deeply".

This is a futile attempt by Lady Macbeth to gain control over her husband. She is very confident of her position above Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare uses this language to emphasise how insensitive she is being to Duncan. This is quite contrasting to Lady Macbeth in act 5 scene 1.

"The thane of fife had a wife. Where is she now"?

Instead of controlling others, Lady Macbeth is now going mad following the murder of King Duncan. The rhyme of fife and wife is like a children's nursery rhyme, Lady Macbeth appears to be going back to her childhood. The stagecraft used in a recent production I saw works very effectively. It shows to the audience how instead of controlling people by her words she has now lost control and saying things she shouldn't.

In Scene 2 Act 2 we see Lady Macbeth and Macbeth as the only people in the seen. There are many similarities and differences between them. Lady Macbeth appears mainly to be a confident, ambitious and articulate character, but Macbeth sort of needs someone to be bossed about by. They have both been involved with murders recently but we see the very different circumstances. Macbeth killed people at battle fighting for his country, he is an honourable man. Lady Macbeth on the other hand has assisted in killing King Duncan for her own interests. This shows us their different characters. We also see that they understand each other, on page 43 line 23:

"A foolish thought, to say a sorry sight".

Lady Macbeth understands that Macbeth is panicking too much about the murder and is trying to calm him down. They are also similar in the way they react to the murders, Macbeth immediately and Lady Macbeth later. What is very different however is that Lady Macbeth is really determined to carry out the murder. Macbeth on the other hand is feeling guilty about committing treason on the man he has just fought for, and Duncan has rewarded him for his efforts by giving him the thane of Cawdor title. Besides what he feels he is too scared to say anything.

Shakespeare's stagecraft seems to be quite effective, especially when the play is being performed. Whatever sort of stagecraft it is it seems to add a real atmosphere to his plays. On line 8 page 43 is a fine example of the ways he uses stagecraft:

"Enter MACBETH (with two bloody daggers)"

The reason why I think this bit of stagecraft is so effective is because it gives the audience and immediate in sight into what has happened. It uses imagery quite well as we can imagine Macbeth walking in with the daggers. It helps us to think what Macbeth would have been like walking in scared with not a clue what to do. On line 59 page 47 is an example of his stagecraft through sounds.

"Knock within"

This really creates a feeling of tension. It makes people think back to when they have done something bad and think they have got caught; this helps us relate to the character. When the play is being acted the actors may change their voice when they hear or see one of the stage directions.

The Gentlewomen is very contrasting to the early Lady Macbeth. I believe that Shakespeare puts her in the play as she makes Lady Macbeth seen harsh in comparison. The gentlewomen, I imagine was typical of a women in those times. We see she does not attempt to influence anyone and is happy being a lady of the court. Lady Macbeth however is different as we see in Act 2 Scene 2 when she takes over a situation that Macbeth cannot handle.

"Give me the daggers".

A woman such as the Gentlewomen would never do a masculine job for a man. In the recent film I saw she says this in a commanding and imperative tone. This is a prime example of Shakespeare's characterization of the early Lady Macbeth.

Macbeth was written in the Jacobean theatre era, which bean in Queen Elizabeth's reign and ended in 1642. All of Shakespeare's plays were penned at this time and his use of language makes up roughly 400 words in the English Language. Shakespeare manipulates language to present Lady Macbeth as a strong woman who is eventually driven mad by her huge ambition. Throughout Macbeth we are shown how this once dominant, powerful and determined lady turned into a pathetic wreck. At the beginning of the book Lady Macbeth is possibly portrayed to the audience as the most important character. Shakespeare uses clever stagecraft such as giving her the most lines to say making her seem very dominant over the other characters. In the recent production she is made to appear to have control over the others on stage. Lady Macbeth's importance seems to fade slowly throughout the play. To represent Lady Macbeths less important role Shakespeare uses clever stagecraft by having her dying of the stage.

Barney Grove

23/05/07