Lady Macbeth

Throughout the tragedy of Macbeth we observe two people on their attempt to gain power and glory through various foul actions. It can be argued that Lady Macbeth is the one responsible for triggering a slippage into this inevitable situation that led to their descent. From the moment Macbeth became aware of his “fate” Lady Macbeth started forming her own imaginary world in which her evil plans seemed likely to be effective. The thought of she and her husband being royalty makes her dismiss rationality and while being immersed in her corrupt intentions, she bares a great influence on Macbeth himself. During the play her personality is being subjected to a gradual and deteriorating transformation which leads to her demise. This essay will be examining Lady Macbeth’s character and how the use of imagery contributes to the portrayal of it through the play.

First of all, at the beginning of the play we are given the impression that Lady Macbeth bares a stronger character compared to husband. She is manipulative, strongly persuasive and without doubt the dominant one in the couple. If it was not for her Macbeth would have never summoned the courage to commit the murders. It is only after a certain point in the play where she shows her true colours revealing the fact that her previous qualities were taken up by her in order to get through her evil plans. In other words Lady Macbeth was never the person she appeared to be although the transition between these two, completely different states of character, is quite striking. Despite this, signs of her weak character can be traced earlier in the play. In fact, Macbeth, as the person closest to her, is aware her weakness “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck” (III. II. 45). Moreover...

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...l never experience, at least not without taking drastic measures. Lady Macbeth committed suicide in order for her soul to be discharged from the torturous feelings of fear and guilt and finally manage to sleep, indefinitely.

In conclusion, aiming to encourage her husband to proceed with her vicious plans, she applies a mask on her character and goes through most of the play pretending to be someone she is not. This attempt of hers had disastrous consequences that led her to a dead end with suicide being her single and last chance of escaping. Maybe if Lady Macbeth had not taken the three witches’ words so seriously she, most certainly, would have saved her husband and herself from their otherwise inevitable downfall. Was it not for the deeper and deeper immersion into her dark thoughts, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth would have continued being a couple for years to come.