Macbeth as a Fiend Like Queen

Macbeth as a Fiend Like Queen

In early modern period of history women had much fewer rights and

privileges. Woman, in Shakespearian times occupied a lesser status to

men in society and there were also limitations on what a woman could

do in a marriage. This is reflected in the marriage of Lady Macbeth

and Macbeth. The husband has more responsibility than his wife.

Lady Macbeth is the dominant partner in the Macbeth marriage. Anything

she says goes. She is a strong and very persuasive influence on her

husband.

“Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here…make

thick my blood…” she asks.

She is seeking supernatural assistance. Lady Macbeth further asks

these “spirits” to come to her women’s breasts and take her milk for

gall.

When she reads the letter written by Macbeth she is thrilled and

excited if Macbeth becomes king she will be queen, a prospect she is

most happy with.

“Hail, King that shalt be.”

“Glamis thou art and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promis’d…”

This is when Lady Macbeth herself begins to formulate her evil plans

to kill Duncan, not Macbeth.

Through this stage of Lady Macbeth plotting to kill King Duncan we see

an entirely different side to the benevolent queen. We learn that she

is most evil, as she calls on evil spirits to aide her conquest into

building up confidence to perform the heinous act of murder against a

kind-hearted king.

We learn that her thoughts turn to ones of malevolence, but yet

Macbeth is hesitant.

When she shared her thoughts with Macbeth he was very nervous about

murdering the king. Duncan was the king whom he loved and looked up

to, whom he served. He could not bring himself to do such a deed. He

was extremely nervous but Lady Macbeth was yet again extremely

persuasive.

“If we should fail?” he asks

“We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place, and we’l not

fail” she replies.