Is Lady Macbeth as strong a character as she sets out to be? Why?
Lady Macbeth is an ambitious woman that lusts for power and position no matter what the cost. She persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan however falls a victim to guilt and madness to an even greater degree than Macbeth. Her conscience affects her to such extent that she eventually commits suicide.
Lady Macbeth's health deteriorates rapidly as the play progresses. In the beginning we are given the impression of a strong female figure that is very persuasive and ruthless. She exploits her sexual hold over Macbeth to lure him into killing Duncan. She asks the spirits to “unsex” her. This means to make her more like a man and less like a woman so that she will have the courage and bravery to go through with what she is planning to do. As men are meant to be strong and be able to cope with such situations however in those times women were seen as feeble and weak and not able to cope with such things.
