Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' is a play about murder and tragedy. When we first meet Lady Macbeth's husband

Lady Macbeth's first appearance in the play, Act 1 Scene 5, consists of her reading a letter from Macbeth informing her of the three witches and their predictions. Lady Macbeth gives the immediate impression that she is already considering murder, her biggest worry is that Macbeth is too soft-hearted to kill Duncan. She says:

"It is too full o'th'milk of human kindness

To catch the nearest way."

This reveals Lady Macbeth's true desire to kill the King in order to become the Queen. When Lady Macbeth receives the news that King Duncan is coming to stay she cannot believe it, she knows this is their chance to kill Duncan. She calls on the evil spirits to defeminise her, she says:

"Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here...

Make thick my blood

Stop th'access and passage to remorse."

Lady Macbeth asks for her gentler feelings to be removed, "milk for gall" and to have a clear conscience, to have no feelings of remorse. This speech provides evidence to suggest that Lady Macbeth is inherently evil.

"Come, thick night

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell."

Lady Macbeth conjures up the powers of the evil spirit world to strengthen her. Lady Macbeth assures her husband that she will organise the murder, all he has to do is act normal.

Therefore it is not surprising that, in Act 2 Scene 2, Lady Macbeth has completed her deed in the murder of Duncan and waits impatiently for Macbeth to return from completing the murder. Lady Macbeth is not totally at ease, she appears strong and resolute but that is only a result of the alcohol; it has given her strength. Lady Macbeth is nervous now but she has to stay strong for Macbeth's sake. As Lady Macbeth awaits Macbeth's return she shows a more human side to her personality. She says:

"Had he not resembled

My father as he slept, I had don't."

Lady Macbeth reveals that she would have killed Duncan if he had not looked like her father as he slept. She shows a softer side of herself, but was it her conscience or the emotions? The dialogue used after Duncan's murder reflects both Macbeth's Lady Macbeth's nervousness, both characters are concerned about being found out, they are scared that someone is awake. Lady Macbeth is strong when Macbeth is weak.

"Consider it not so deeply."

Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth not to let his guilt get to him, not to let it worry him. Lady Macbeth thinks that she can wash away the blood and guilt,

"A little water clears us of this deed."

Whereas Macbeth thinks that a whole ocean can clean the blood from his hands and get rid of the guilt.

However in Act 5 Scene 1 Lady Macbeth is sleepwalking and talking about the murders. Lady Macbeth tries to wash imagined blood from her hands,

"What, will these hands ne'er be clean?"

What Lady Macbeth says here is ironic, as in Act 2 Scene 2 after Duncan's murder she told Macbeth to wash his hands, they would be clear with a little water. Lady Macbeth's language reflects her own and Macbeth's words about the murders: Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macduff. In this scene we see Lady Macbeth at her weakest, she has become insane with guilt, her past haunts her sleep.

Lady Macbeth tried to be strong for Macbeth but only grew weaker as the play progressed. Lady Macbeth told Macbeth to hide his deadly intentions behind welcoming looks, this is something she could do before the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth told her husband to be normal, this was something Lady Macbeth found herself unable to do.

"Look like th'innocent flower,

But be the serpent under't."

Donna Carson