More handpicked essays just for you.
Portrayal of lady macbeth
Lady macbeth and macbeth contrast each other
Lady macbeth and macbeth contrast each other
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Macbeth's Lady-Villain
William Shakespeare's moving tragedy Macbeth presents a leading lady who is not the usual sort of woman, but rather a contradiction of the typical woman. Let us consider her character in this essay.
In "Memoranda: Remarks on the Character of Lady Macbeth," Sarah Siddons comments on the Lady's cold manner:
[Macbeth] announces the King's approach; and she, insensible it should seem to all the perils which he has encountered in battle, and to all the happiness of his safe return to her, -- for not one kind word of greeting or congratulations does she offer, -- is so entirely swallowed up by the horrible design, which has probably been suggested to her by his letters, as to have forgotten both the one and the other. It is very remarkable that Macbeth is frequent in expressions of tenderness to his wife, while she never betrays one symptom of affection towards him, till, in the fiery furnace of affliction, her iron heart is melted down to softness. (56)
Fanny Kemble in "Lady Macbeth" depicts the character of Macbeth's wife:
Lady Macbeth, even in her sleep, has no qualms of conscience; her remorse takes none of the tenderer forms akin to repentance, nor the weaker ones allied to fear, from the pursuit of which the tortured soul, seeking where to hide itself, not seldom escapes into the boundless wilderness of madness.
A very able article, published some years ago in the National Review, on the character of Lady Macbeth, insists much upon an opinion that she died of remorse, as some palliation of her crimes, and mitigation of our detestation of them. That she died of wickedness would be, I think, a juster verdict. Remorse is consciousness of guilt . . . and that I think Lady Macbeth never had; though the unrecognized pressure of her great guilt killed her. (116-17)
Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare interpret the character of Lady Macbeth:
Lady Macbeth is of a finer and more delicate nature. Having fixed her eye upon the end - the attainment for her husband of Duncan's crown - she accepts the inevitable means; she nerves herself for the terrible night's work by artificial stimulants; yet she cannot strike the sleeping king who resembles her father. Having sustained her weaker husband, her own strength gives way; and in sleep, when her will cannot control her thoughts, she is piteously afflicted by the memory of one stain of blood upon her little hand.
The Ways in Which Lady Macbeth Moves from a Position of Strength to One of Final Despair
Lady Macbeth’s relationship with her husband is not as patriarchal as is seen in traditional representations of husband and wife dynamics during this time period. For example, she says, “To alter favor ever is to fear/ Leave all the rest to me” to Macbeth (I.v.72-73). She tells him what to do and how to do it rather than the more accustomed reverse. She is also taking a position of authority by doing things for herself. Lady Macbeth criticizes her husband, saying, “Wouldst thou have that/ Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life/ And live a coward in thine own esteem?” (I.vii.41-43). She calls him a coward, easily insulting him without repercussions and with the knowledge that he won’t do anything because of it. After Macbeth kills Duncan and is in shock of the crime he has just committed, Lady Macbeth says, “Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead/ Are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood/ That fears a painted devil” (II.ii.53-55). In this scene, she is taking charge of the situation by ignoring her husband’s inability to fully comprehend what he has just don...
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon in 1564. One of the most influential writers of all time, still remembered today for his enigmatic plays. The zeitgeist of England in the 17th century did nothing but intensify his success. In an age of acute paranoia and a morbid fascination surrounding the supernatural, plays like Macbeth' were the forbidden fruit craved for by the public of that era. Also as feminism was yet to be invented Macbeth' was also controversial in relation to the character of Lady Macbeth, and her almost masculine temperament. In a time where men were the dominant gender, Lady M's domineering character was intriguing. Shakespeare's plays are grouped into three categories; histories, tragedies and comedies. Macbeth is ultimately a tragedy. He was thought to have written The Scottish Play' for King James I, who had a personal interest in witchcraft and the supernatural. In this essay I intend to explore Macbeth and Lady Macbeths fall from grace and the deterioration of their relationship throughout the play.
He no longer is the innocent soldier he once way, he now has “unclean hands”. Lady Macbeth however, assumes his innocence. She claims she cannot murder Duncan herself because Duncan looks to much like her sleeping father. She is all words and no actions. Macbeth is devoid of any human emotions as the play goes on, and Lady Macbeth assumes the emotional role. Lady Macbeth begins to have dreams in which she cannot get the blood off her hands, and ultimately commits suicide from guilt of her actions. This breakdown of Lady Macbeth really highlights how inhuman the murder of Duncan has made Macbeth.
As Shakespeare’s tragic tale of ambition unfolds, the two central characters, Lady Macbeth and the title character Macbeth, undergo a dramatic shift of dominance in their relationship. In the beginning of the play the couple act as a team, plotting the death of Duncan to further their mutual bloodthirsty ambition. Lady Macbeth soon shows her power over Macbeth when she questions her husband’s manhood and devotion to her when he gets cold feet. As Macbeth’s confidence slowly grows and the witches proclaim positive futures for him he begins to separate himself from his wife, planning Banquo’s assassination without telling her, and no longer being susceptible to her insults. By the end of the play the roles have completely switched and Lady Macbeth spirals into guilt-fueled insanity as Macbeth prepares to battle to keep his throne. This essay will explore the relationship between Macbeth and his wife, paying particular attention to the scenes previously mentioned.
Kate Millett is a feminist activist. Millet is a fallen icon in the feminist movement. Millett's public life started to smudge. Many of the women in the feminist movement turned their backs on Kate Millett when they find out she was a lesbian. Kate Millet was viewed as manic-depressive, married, bisexual, women's reformer, gay liberationist, withdrawn sculptor, in your face activist, retiring Midwesterner, loud New Yorker. People believed that Millett's was a complicated a figure with to many conflicted messages. Her private life was in turmoil. She was tormented by the pain of being a lesbian. Millet's desire was to be true to herself. Kate Millet continues to do the things she loved no matter what people thought about her.
Lady Macbeth’s wicked character has an extreme impact towards her husband. Lady Macbeth is responsible for influencing her husband to commit both crimes; she unleashes the dark side of him and motivates him to become an evil and horrendous man. In various parts throughout the story we find that Lady Macbeth strives beyond limits to be converted into a bitter and sour women. The audience is revolted by her horrific actions and although she may seem repugnant, she is an extremely talented actor. In her role, having a deceitful and convincing character is important
First, Polonius told Ophelia not to ever speak to Hamlet again in act 3.1. I think that if she was truly in love with him, which she showed towards the end of the play, she would have either defied her father or would have agreed and still would have gone to see Hamlet secretly. Hamlet has offered Ophelia gifts along with his love to gain Ophelia's love, but Polonius believes that this is Hamlet just trying to woo Ophelia, and that Hamlet does not really love his daughter. Although Ophelia does try to defend Hamlet, she only says three things to try and protect their relationship, and then ends with, "I shall obey, my lord."(1.3 137) She could have just kept on arguing with him, which would not have been a very smart move, or she could keep up a secret relationship with Hamlet without her father knowing, but she decides not to do this. Next, when Hamlet comes running into her room looking like he has just seen a ghost, which in fact he has, and she does not say a word to him. She just looks at him like he is crazy and watches him go out the door without saying a word. Afterwards, she even tells her father about what happened, and this causes Polonius to start believing that Hamlet has gone mad.
Hamlet and Ophelia do love one another yet the many issues take a toll on their relationship, which causes a sudden switch. The desire Ophelia craves from Hamlet is not received, therefore she gets so enraged by his incapability that ultimately, she loses her sanity. The main goal of Hamlet is to take revenge of Claudius for the death of his father, despite taking his anger out on his uncle it is all thrown upon Ophelia. Which for him is seemed as quite easy since his mother takes Claudius's side, while Ophelia her father and brother. Hamlet desperately is in need for Ophelia's love yet she just distances herself from him, which triggers him into a belief that she betrays him. When in reality she is just in fear of her father and brother since she's been asked to break up with him. While Ophelia just obeys her father Hamlet on the other hand just goes along with his act of losing his mind and doesn’t pay any heed to her. Ophelia felt caught up in all this she was alone, and the one person she has love for betrays her. Hamlet confesses his love for Ophelia after knowing of her death' 'In the graveyard, Hamlet is confronted by Laertes that he never loved Ophelia. Hamlet defends himself by saying “I loved Ophelia, forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum” (V.i.285-87). Sadly, his love was lost by not giving much time and appreciation when needed from him which resulted in Ophelia's
A.C. Bradley’s interpretation of Macbeth finds him human, conflicted, and comparable to his wife, Lady Macbeth, in many respects. They share a common ambition and a common conscience sensitive enough to feel the effects of their ambition. But the story, Bradley contends, is built upon the traits that set them apart. He focuses mainly on Macbeth. Macbeth is a character of two battling halves: his reason, or ambition, and his “imagination.” Bradley attributes the hysterical nature of Macbeth’s visions, the dagger, the specter of Banquo, and other ghosts, to his wild imagination. He “acts badly” (Bradley, 136) and loses his composure whenever his imagination triumphs over his practical side; however, Bradley also asserts that Macbeth’s imagination is “the best of him, something usually deeper and higher than his conscious thoughts” (133). Macbeth is therefore unable to make use of the “better” imagination with which he was endowed and instead only appears “firm, self-controlled and practical” when he is “hateful” (136). A product of these clashing sides, Macbeth’s murder of Duncan is borne of his inability to properly acknowledge the conclusions drawn by his imagination. In his soliloquies and in...
Macbeth’s letter explaining his encounter with the three weird sisters did in no way startle Lady Macbeth, not as a wife or women. Her reaction to the considerate letter straight away sets her in a mindset where she quickly grasps t...
Despite Ophelia’s weak will, the male characters respond dramatically to her actions, proving that women indeed have a large impact in Hamlet. Her obedience is actually her downfall, because it allows the male characters to control and use her in their schemes. Ophelia’s betrayal ends up putting Hamlet over the edge, motivating him in his quest for revenge. Ophelia is one of the two women in the play. As the daughter of Polonius, she only speaks in the company of several men, or directly to her brother or father. Since we never see her interactions with women, she suppresses her own thoughts in order to please her superiors. Yet however weak and dependent her character is on the surface, Ophelia is a cornerstone to the play’s progression. One way that her manipulation is key to Hamlet’s plot is when Polonius orders her “in plain terms, from this time forth/ Have you so slander any moment leisure/As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet,” (1.3.131-133). She complies with his wishes, agreeing to return any tokens of Hamlet’s love to him, verify t...
The ugly sister and her mother treat the pretty sister very poorly and give her no respect. They make her clean and tend to all the chores of the house. Her mother also makes her spin thread by a well everyday. After the pretty one loses the spindle down the well, the mother yells and scolds her for doing such a stupid thing and tells her to get the spindle back. The pretty one is never given what she deserves, nor is she rewarded by doing anything she is supposed to do.
When he hears of Lady Macbeth’s death from his servant, Seyton, Macbeth is less than indifferent. He feels no grief, just inconvenience, “she should have died hereafter.”
Macbeth is overwhelmed with the significance of his filthy deed. His wife is concerned only with the details of what must be done next - with facts. She has no imagination. The passage between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth after the murder is one of the finest examples of atmosphere ever created in drama."(62)