Inside Look at Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is a deep and complicated character. She has many inner demons that she never comes to terms with, which inevitably lead to her suicide. She is seen as an evil, conniving woman but she goes so much deeper than that. She has high hopes for herself and uses her husband and his love for her to obtain them. All of the things she wished eventually lead to tragedy though.

When Lady Macbeth is first introduced she is reading a letter from her husband, Macbeth. He is telling her about his meeting with the three witches and their three prophecies. The one she is most concerned with is the prophecy that Macbeth will become king. She decides that they must kill King Duncan. She then asks for the strength to commit the murder. “Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood, Stop up th’ access and passage to remorse.” (Act 1 Scene 5 Lines 41-42) She is the one who plans the entire murder.

When Macbeth returns home she tells him of their plan. He is worried and she sees this. She tells him, “Only look up clear. To alter favor is to fear. Leave all the rest to me.” (Act 1 Scene 7 Lines 69-71). She plans the murder of Duncan while Macbeth tries to decide whether or not to go through with it. She seems to have gotten the strength to go through with. This shows a cruelty that women were not supposed to have in this time period. Women were seen as the fairer sex and not capable of thinking up such terrible schemes. The character of Lady Macbeth goes against the view of women.

Lady Macbeth plays the perfect host when welcoming Duncan to her home. She shows this when she bows and says, “All our service in every point twice done, and then done double.” (Act 1 Scene 7 Lines 14-15). She never lets it show that she has something t...

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...cene 1 Lines 37-38). She then tells of the murder of Banquo. She also seems to be talking to Macbeth when she says, “Wash your hands; put on your nightgown; look not so pale!” (Act 5 Scene 1 Lines 53-54).

Lady Macbeth suffered through many things throughout the play. Most of the things she suffered through were her own doing both directly and indirectly. She has more of a heart than she wants to let show and the ultimately is her downfall. Her ambition is also one of her downfalls; it is also one of her husband’s. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had many of the same faults. Lady Macbeth’s suicide is the biggest tragedy of the play. She was a powerful, smart, and strong woman. She was also many things that led to her suicide, such as ambitious, cunning, and malicious. She is a perfect example of how the need for power and the gaining of power are two dangerous things.