Study of Lady Macbeth - Changes through the play.
Study of Lady Macbeth
Changes through the play
Lady Macbeth is the wife of Macbeth who has just come from a battle and has just been named Thane of Cawdor. The first time we see her in the play, she receives a letter from Macbeth talking about three witches and what they said to him. It reads that the witches have predicted that Macbeth will be the new king. Lady Macbeth is already of how to get rid of Duncan who is the present king.
Lady Macbeth is told that King Duncan will be coming to stay at their place. She is startled by the news and calls on evil spirits to change her and lose her femininity. "Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty, make thick my blood... etc. She is saying to the evil spirits give me murderous thoughts, make me have no sympathy for humanity at all.
When King Duncan arrives at Macbeths' house, Lady Macbeth has already thought of a plan to get rid of him. She treats Duncan as if she is the perfect hostess and hides all her feelings better than Macbeth.
Later, Macbeth has felt that he cannot go through with it. Lady Macbeth who is very sly urges him to continue with the murder. The words that Lady Macbeth gives him are very persuasive. She accuses him of being a coward and makes him think he does not love her. "Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem".
Lady Macbeth explains her plan to Macbeth. He is impressed and carries on with the murder. He asks her "If we should fail". She says, "We fail?" as if it is inevitable that they should succeed. She has control over Macbeth in this part of the play.
"To alter favour ever is to fear". Lady Macbeth says this to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is saying that if you change your mind, you had better watch out!
In Act 2 Scene 2 Lady Macbeth has prepared for the murder and waits for Macbeth. In the Beginning of Scene 2, she has different moods. "That which hath... made me bold". She sounds bold and courageous when she says that. The next line she says is "What hath quench them hath given me fire, Hark! Peace", she is startled from outside noise. She realises it is a bird shrieking. "It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, which gives the stern'st good night" she says as she is relieved.
When Macbeth has returned from the murder and Lady Macbeth is worrying. Macbeth then tells his wife that he has done the deed.
Around this part, iambic pentameter is being used: "Did not you speak?" " When?" " Now" " As I decended?". The words may not be in the same line but is spoken in a sort of rhythm. All the words spoken are spoken in fear and many questions.
Lady Macbeth later says to Macbeth " These deeds must not be thought, after these ways, so, it will make us mad"" She is saying to him to sort himself out, otherwise, he will just go mad. Later, she sees he has brought back the daggers. Lady Macbeth realises that it was a bad idea to bring them back. Macbeth refuses to take them back to the scene so; Lady Macbeth takes the daggers and puts them back in the bedroom. She says "Infirm of purpose', Give me the daggers". She seems to have no fear about the situation, but there seems to be some sort of nervousness in her. Macbeth's wife returns with blood stains all over her hands. She points out that they both have bloodstained hands by saying, "My hands are of your colour, but I shame, to wear a heart so white". She makes Macbeth feel that they are both equal to blame for the murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is trying to straighten out Macbeth although he is still quite fearful. She also mentions "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't". She tries to make Macbeth feel reassured and that Macbeth can justify to what he has done.
Lady Macbeth does not reappear until Act 2 Scene 3. In this scene Macduff is appalled by Duncan's death Lady Macbeth is told of Duncan's death but says "What, in our house?". She seems puzzled but not at all shocked. She does not show feelings of what a natural woman would do. After a while Macbeth has killed the guards assumed of killing the king. Lady Macbeth has now fainted and is taken for treatment. She has maybe because of Macbeth's speech that he gives, so she faints to distract attention from him. There could be something concerning her or worrying her. It could be real after all that she has been through, and is affected by physical weakness.
Macbeth is now king, but Banquo suspects him of foul play. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth invite Banquo to a formal banquet. Macbeth and his queen are very concerned to make their first public entrance as impressive as possible. In Act 3 Scene 2 Lady Macbeth deals with Macbeth's mood of depression. Macbeth believes that they have only "scorched the snake, not killed it". He cannot stop thinking about the murder, but Lady Macbeth urges her husband to put the past behind him. She does not know that Macbeth has a plot to kill Banquo. Macbeth has calmed down towards the end of the scene.
Banquo has now been murdered but Fleance escapes. At the banquet, Macbeth is told of Banquo's murder. He also hears of Fleance's escape and is very unsatisfied. Macbeth turns his attention back to the banquet. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth "My royal lord, you do not give the cheer". She is telling Macbeth to please his people as a good host should do. While Macbeth is talking, he sees Banquo's ghost in his seat. His reaction startles his guests so; Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband. "Sit, worthy friends." My lord is often thus, and hath been from ...
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Banquo has now been murdered but Fleance escapes. At the banquet, Macbeth is told of Banquo's murder. He also hears of Fleance's escape and is very unsatisfied. Macbeth turns his attention back to the banquet. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth "My royal lord, you do not give the cheer". She is telling Macbeth to please his people as a good host should do. While Macbeth is talking, he sees Banquo's ghost in his seat. His reaction startles his guests so; Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband. "Sit, worthy friends." My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth" are the words that Lady Macbeth explains Macbeths' actions. The ghost disappears but reappears again making Macbeth go insane. Banquo's continues to haunt Macbeth, but Macbeth insists his guests stay. Lady Macbeth urges the guests to leave. She fears Macbeth will say too much. Lady Macbeth then tells everyone "A kind good night to all".
After the banquet, Lady Macbeth is very quiet. She seems tired and drained. Maybe it is because of tiredness or even more than that.
By this time, Macbeth has seen the witches again, to ask of his future. Lady Macduff has been killed with her son.
In Act 5 Scene 1, we see Lady Macbeth again, but this time she has been through different moods. Lady Macbeth's waiting gentlewoman has called in a doctor to view Lady Macbeth's actions in her sleepwalking. She speaks of references concerning Duncan and Lady Macduff's deaths. Lady Macbeth refers to her hands that seem to have specks of blood by saying, "Out damned spot, out I say!". She seems haunted by what she has done. The doctor tells the gentlewoman to call on a priest rather than a doctor and to keep a close eye on Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth is now ready to fight a battle, and hears of his wife's' illness which cannot be explained. The doctor tells Macbeth of his wife and says, "Cure her of that" as if he is not concerned. Since the murder the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth has deteriorated and does not seem to be getting any better.
Macbeth has turned very confident. Seyton brings him news that Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth feels drained and tells of how she should have died older. To reflect on his wifes' life he says "She should have died hereafter, there would have been a time for such a word". He reflects upon her life, and does not hear of Lady Macbeth again.
Macbeth - Lady Macbeth- Character changes throughout the play
To metamorphose ones character through years of experience and age is salutary. To deteriorate ones character through a short period of fast decisions and unsure actions is perilous. Lady Macbeth proves the truth to this theory. The impulsive mistakes and power-hungry tactics littered the journey Lady MacBeth paves throughout this play that ultimately ends in her death. She feels overwhelmed by all that is happening, both physically and mentally, and decides to end her own life. The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare illustrates two seemingly ordinary nobles whose lives intertwine in a whirlwind of power, corruption, and the supernatural resulting in their descents. They were both so wrapped up in this greedy world they failed to consider the consequences of their actions more realistically. Macbeth started to succumb to the belief that deeds "must be acted ere they be scann'd,"(III.IV.140). Lady Macbeth in particular loses sight of rationality from the play's beginning to end. She feigns an image of ruthlessness and believes she can handle the intrusion of unearthly evil in her mind and soul. She presents a seemingly stable foundation of control in which she clutches with an iron fist. As Macbeth becomes less dependent on his wife, she loses more control. She loses control of her husband, but mostly, of herself, proving her vacillating truth. Lady Macbeth's character gradually disintegrates through a false portrayal of unyielding strength, an unsteady control of her husband and shifting involvement with supernatural powers.
Throughout the duration of play Lady Macbeth's truly decrepit and vulnerable nature is revealed. Lady Macbeth has been the iron fist and authority icon for Macbeth, yet deep down, she never carried such traits to begin with. This duality in Lady Macbeth's character plays a huge role in planting the seed for Macbeth's downfall and eventual demise. At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is introduced as a dominant, controlling, heartless wife with an obsessive ambition to achieve kingship for her husband. Her weak, sheltered, unsure and unstable condition is only revealed at the end of the play. However, the audience begins to see hints of this hidden nature by the manner in which Macbeth addresses her. Contrary to her supposed ruthless nature, her husband regards her as a pure being. He attempts to shield her from foreign agencies by saying, "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck," (III.II.45). It is only in private that Lady Macbeth shows her weaknesses. As opposed to her seemingly violent persona, Lady Macbeth is horrified by blood, and during her sleepwalking soliloquy refers to her hand as if suggesting a delicate stature by uttering this: "All the perfumes / of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." (V. I. 43-44). Although Lady Macbeth is unstable and vulnerable, she uses dramatic analogies to persuade her openly fragile husband to follow through with the first murder:
I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this. (I.VII.54-59).
Her shocking and persuasive effect on Macbeth convinces him that he is "settled," (I.III.79). By hearing a woman who seems to be fearless of his anxieties, he is soothed. But even here, however, we begin to catch a greater glimpse of Lady Macbeth's very unstable mind. By using such a graphic description, she reflects her straining desperation for Macbeth's commitment. She knows that Macbeth is a strong person, and she must seem stronger to convince him to go along with her. She now has to wear a 'mask' of this determined and cold character, creating more distance between her true self and Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has the persuasiveness capable of humiliating someone into murder, but has no personal capacity to execute 'the deed,' though she spoke, at times, as if she would take the opportunity whenever it arose. Lady Macbeth imagines that she has ability to hide her true emotions, though her mind is as frail as an "egg" (IV.III.83). She claims that she can act to "look like the innocent flower/But be the serpent under't" (I.V.64-65). Lady Macbeth imagines that she has the capability to be a remorseless and determined villain, but she isn't anything of the like in reality. In fact, at the end of the play Lady Macbeth is so feeble-minded she becomes overwhelmed with guilt. The guilt that has been set upon her by her husband sprung from convincing him to kill. In reality, the final results are only accountable to Lady MacBeth. She is the one who convinces her husband to commit the murders, therefore ending in a series of emotional and mental problems. As the play begins, she is a motivated, power-hungry woman with no boundaries, but as the play moves on, Lady Macbeth begins to fall further and further into a guilt-filled world, ending in her own suicide.
Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth's shifting control over her husband is mainly responsible for aggravating the struggle between Macbeth's morality, devotion and "vaulting ambition." In the beginning, she believes matters should be taken into her own hands from the moment she receives the letter about the witches' prophecies. At the dawn of the play, Lady Macbeth believes that Macbeth doesn't have the "spirit" to "catch the nearest way" (I.V.17). At this moment, she decides that quick action will be the basis of her reasoning and planning. Her spur-of-the-moment orders will affect Macbeth so deeply his character will be forever changed. Lady Macbeth intentionally tries to ignore consequence and concentrates on securing Macbeth's future as king of Scotland. She looks to the 'quickest way' as one that may lack rationality, but shortens their path to the throne. She receives a letter from Macbeth with the news that he was prophesied as the king of Scotland. As soon as her eyes ran across the words, she said, "thou. shalt be / What thou art promised" (I.V.14-15). She suggests, by this quick reaction, her intentions to be a major participant in ensuring Macbeth's royal success. After the murder is plotted between the two, Duncan decides to make a surprise appearance at Macbeth's house. Lady Macbeth tells her husband to put the "great business into my dispatch" (I.V.67), taking charge and covering for Macbeth, who is defenseless to the overbearing tension residing in himself. As the situation escalates, Lady Macbeth tries to soothe him by explaining that "things without remedy / Should be without regard: What's done is done" (III.II.11-12). She has changed her technique with Macbeth from shock and intimidation to restraint. She says, "You must leave this" (III.II.36), which sounds calming and unworried. Her control over Macbeth has waned, and over herself, her control is dwindling as each second passes. The fire she once had, which drove Macbeth forward is now no more than a minute spark. She is beginning to lose that controlling stiffness. She asks Macbeth, "what's to be done" (III.II.44), which is a drastic change in control. She doesn't voice any opinions or plans of any sort for the rest of the play. Lady Macbeth is now in awe of Macbeth, a contrast to when Macbeth was in awe of Lady Macbeth's infanticide analogy. She, by the end of the play, has lost self-confidence by realizing that most of this situation is a result of her impulsiveness and instability. When Lady Macbeth finally recognizes her incompetence, all else crumbles, including her husband. The significance of this character flaw secures her role as the foundation and authority in the beginning of the play, which plants the seed for failure from beginning to end.
Lady Macbeth's relationship with the supernatural evolves from confidently seeking and obtaining the evilness, to being victimized by its power. At one point, Lady Macbeth demands the assistance of unearthly evil forces: "You murdering ministers. Come, thick night.[from] the dunnest smoke of hell" (I.VI. 47-50). Being totally rash, Lady Macbeth summons the evil as if she can undermine the power of darkness to her advantage. She asks for the assistance of the evil, implying that she holds no resident evil in her soul. It must act as an additive to fulfill a transformation. Lady Macbeth is creating, instead of magnifying, wickedness that she must manifest in order to propel Macbeth. She embraces the darkness and welcomes it. By being so crude in her requests, she must believe that she is far too 'valorous' to be negatively affected by it. It is rather ironic to see the utter reversal of this at the end of the play. She eventually goes delirious, carrying a lit candle wherever she walked (V.I.17.5). Indeed, this behavior is a pathetic attempt to try and fend off the real, evil darkness with a man-made light. She looks to Lady Macduff with a countenance of that which would belong to a ghost. She begins to express a compassion that she had never felt (or at least shown) when she utters, "The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she / now? What, will these hands ne'er be clean?" (V.I.37-38). Lady Macbeth's decaying remorse she had chosen to restrain had sunken into her brain, like a sump, slowly grabbing at her thoughts one by one. The darkness had stripped her of her 'mask,' and she is now engulfed in agony and sorrow. She is helpless. The thought of the evil, which she once sought after and accepted, was now an image of terror in her mind.
In conclusion, Lady Macbeth's character gradually disintegrates through a false portrayal of unyielding strength, an unsteady control of her husband and shifting involvement with supernatural powers. Lady Macbeth's deterioration is not only a result of her unwise decisions and actions, many factors played a role in this tragedy of this character's morale: She regarded supernatural forces with such respect and confidence, she tried to get in touch with her own only to become overpowered by their evilness; Her desire for an intimidating personality resulted in the destruction of her morals and in the end, the brutal realization of her true weaknesses; The couple's ambition, although obsessive, is a characteristic of human nature; Her gift of harsh control over Macbeth resulted in a perilous journey for a common goal and the demise of not only herself but also her husband. Possibly as a result of these many factors, Lady Macbeth ends her life and Macbeth is forced to ponder his own existence as well. Macbeth's general outlook of life proved to be a brief meditation on the meaningless of human actions:
Life's but a walking shadow; a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing. (V.V.27-31)
He realizes everything he strove for in life was in vain; therefore his wife's death seems more like an escape from their worthless life. Perhaps if Macbeth and his lady were happy with who they were, they would not have let power, ambition, authority, and supernatural forces hinder their chances at happiness.
Macbeth: Lady Macbeth's Character
Lady Macbeth is a controversial figure. She is seen by some as a woman of strong will who is ambitious for herself and who is astute enough to recognise her husband's strenghts and weaknesses, and ruthless enough to exploit them. They see her in her commitment to evil and in her realisation that the acquisition of the Crown has not brought her the hapipiness she had expected, and finally, as one who breaks down nuder the strain. Others see her as a woman ambitious for her husband whom she loves. She recognises the essential good in him, and feels that, without her, he will never win the Crown. She allies herself with the powers of darkness for his sake, but here inherent(congenital) femininity beraks down under the strain of the unnatural murder of Duncan and the alienation of her husband. She is seen as simple and realistic where Macbeth is complicated and imaginative. She can see what must be done; he visualises the consequence.
There is a vast difference between Macduff's "O gentle Lady 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak The repetition in a woman's ear Would murder as it fell." ACT II, Sc.ii and Malcolm's assessment of her as a "fiend-like queen" (Act IV, Sc.vii). So we must examine the text. To Macbeth, in his letter to her, she is his "dearest partner of greatness", an indication of love and trust. We see her as she analyses his virtues and weaknesses and decides to overcome his scruples, "hie thee hither That I may pour my spirits at thine ear" Is there any evidence here as to why she wishes him to be king?
Overcome By Ambition - When she calls on the powers of evil to unsex her and make her cruel, does this imply that she fears her own womanliness and realises the unnaturalness of the murder of Duncan? Is she, like Macbeth just an ordinary human being overcome with ambition? Does she really lose her womanliness? Do the words(Act I, Sc. ii) "Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done't" imply that she is still a woman with a woman's tendernesss? Does she show herself strong willed and more determined than Macbeth, Act I, Sc.vii, as she argues and demands his agreement to the murder? Is she alloy by exploiting his love for her when she makes his consent to murder a test of his love? Is she being cynical when she inverts logic and reality in asking him if he is afraid to be what he wants to be and in suggesting that to be a true man he must take what he wants? Must she take some of Macbeth's guilt here? In the murder scene (ActII, Sc.ii) she resorts to wine to give her courage. Does this also show that she has not been filled from top to toe with "direst cruelty"? She is aware, too, that dwelling on the moral aspect of the murder "will make us mad".
The Better Criminal? - She seems to be the better criminal; she remembers the details that Macbeth has overlooked, "Why did you bring these daggers from the place?" and shows her as she brings the daggers back. Does she really despise Macbeth when she argues him of wearing "a heart so white"? Or is she afraidfor him that he may betray himself? In Act II, Sc.ii, when she calls for help does she do so because of her feminie weakness, or is she afraid that Macduff may question Macbeth further as to his killing of the chamberlains? If the latter, does it again illustrate her quick thinking?
Unhappiness - In Act III, Sc.ii, Lady Macbeth is coming to realise that the Crown has not brought happiness, "Nought's had, all's spent, Where our desire is got without content." Is she suffering from remorse here, or does she think that the murder of Duncan has alienated Macbeth from her? "How now, my Lord! Why do you keep alone?" Is she worried that he is unhappy? She tries to console him, "what's done is done." and to rally his spirits. She again shows her presence of mind in the Ghost scene when he becomes 'unmanned', but then, she does not see the Ghost. She uses the old stragedy of appealing to his manliness, but without success. When the guests have departed she does not upbraid Macbeth, but makes excuses for him that he lacks "the season of all natures, sleep." Does this show her gentleness and compassion towards him? Or does she feel that further argument would be useless?
The Sleep-Walking Scene - We do not meet her again until this scene. She has now been reduced to a poor,mad creature, broken by events. Our last view of her is her delusion of nearness to Macbeth. Is there a stress on her sense of guilt, her despair and, perhaps still, her determination? Macbeth's few words about her (Act V,Sc.v) may be uttered in an indifferent tone, or even with a sense of something already lost. In the end, perhaps, we feel guilty for her, but we may still remember what appeared to be hardness and cruelty