lady macbeth characterization essay

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Lady Macbeth is possibly Shakespeare’s most famous and vivid female character. Everyone, whether they have read or seen the Macbeth play , has a view of her. She is generally depicted in the popular mind as the epitome of evil, and images of her appear over and over again in several cultures. She is usually portrayed in pictures as something like a Disney character, a cross between Cruella DeVille and the wicked stepmother in Snow White.

Although she has some of the most bloodthirsty lines in Shakespeare she is not quite Cruella De Ville or the wicked stepmother. The response she gets from the male characters suggests that she is a young, sexually attractive woman and, indeed, in her effort to influence Macbeth, she uses every method at her disposal, including the employment of her sexual charms.

She is usually depicted as a strong, tough woman and, in her drive to induce Macbeth to murder King Duncan, she appears to be that, but, having succeeded, it does not take long for her to crumble and break down, destroyed by guilt, and she ends up committing suicide.

Shakespeare does not have any evil characters. What he has are ordinary human beings, like you and me, placed in situations that challenge and test them. Some of them, like Iago in Othello , have personality defects, but that’s rare in Shakespeare and it’s not the case with Lady Mcbeth.

The challenges that Shakespeare presents his characters with generates different responses from different people. Lady Macbeth’s challenge is that she discovers that her husband has been tempted by an encounter with three witches to do something about their prediction that he will become king. She knows that the king would have to die for that to happen. When she gets a message that King Duncan plans to spend the night with them at Glamys Castle it seems to confirm the thought that they would have to kill him and that this was their once in a lifetime opportunity. That’s the situation into which she has been thrust.

She is as ambitious as Macbeth but she knows that for all his bravery in battle, all his soldierly and diplomatic qualities, he is basically much too soft –“too full of the milk of human kindness” – to take advantage of the opportunity. She makes up her mind to make him do it.

And she is right about his lack of resolve – they talk it over and he tells her that he just can’t do it. She goes into high gear and virtually holds his hand through it. One of her strongest qualities is persistence and she shows it here. Macbeth hesitates, equivocates and falters but she holds firm. She argues the case, she mocks him, bringing his manhood into question, she appeals to his sense of loyalty to her, she takes him to bed, and she finally prevails.

Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep and from that moment their marriage begins to fall apart. They each fall into their own guilt-trip and hardly speak to each other. As king, Macbeth fears his political enemies and embarks on a reign of terror while Lady Macbeth stays in bed, unable to sleep, having nightmares when she does manage it. While walking and talking in her sleep she gives the game away about what they have done and sinks into a moral, physical and spiritual collapse. When Macbeth is on his last legs, with the rebels closing in, he gets the message that she’s dead. At that point, he says he doesn’t have time to think about it. “She should have died hereafter,” he says. Their partnership in this murderous enterprise has destroyed their marriage.

The promise of strength that we see in her at the beginning of the play is an illusion. What we are seeing is naked ambition and a willingness to act on it without having the resources to deal with the consequences. We see how guilt can eat up your soul and destroy you. We see how hollow ambition is, both in her journey and Macbeth’s. (Read the most  significant Macbeth ambition quotes .)

Character attributes

Some significant character attributes of Lady Macbeth are:

• Controlling – she understands that her husband doesn’t have the savageness required to murder the king of his own accord, so she manipulates him. She plans out the murder, then takes control of events when Macbeth loses his mind.
• Cruel – she is a violent, cold-blooded character who is happy to scheme the murder. She ridicules Macbeth when he doesn’t agree to participate in her violent plans.
• Two-faced – she welcomes King Duncan like a friend whilst at the same time planning his murder. She also advises Macbeth to be two-faced.

Erika Sunnegårdh as Lady Macbeth

Top Lady Macbeth Quotes

“I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness

( act 1, scene 5 )

“To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.”

“ The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements”

“Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

“Would’st thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage? “

( act 1, scene 7 )

“I have given suck, and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.”

“ Out! damned spot! “

( act 5, scene 1 )

Read more Lady Macbeth quotes .

See All Macbeth Resources

Macbeth | Macbeth summary | Macbeth characters : Banquo , Lady Macbeth , Macbeth , Macduff , Three Witches | Macbeth settings | Modern Macbeth translation  | Macbeth full text | Macbeth PDF  |  Modern Macbeth ebook | Macbeth for kids ebooks | Macbeth quotes | Macbeth ambition quotes |  Macbeth quote translations | Macbeth monologues | Macbeth soliloquies | Macbeth movies | Macbeth themes

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Common Questions About Lady Macbeth

Is lady macbeth a true story.

Although Shakespeare used the names of real historical people in writing Hamlet, the events of the drama are mostly made up. So in that sense, Lady Macbeth is not a real character. There was an 11th-century Scottish king named Mac Bethad Mac Findlaich . Presumably, he had a wife but we know nothing about her.

What kind of character is Lady Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth is ambitious. She is manipulative and uses several techniques of a skilled manipulator to entice Macbeth into the murder of Duncan. Usually thought of as a hard, ruthless woman, she is, in reality, soft. Not long after the murder, unable to cope with her guilt, she falls apart and loses all sense of herself.

What happens to Lady Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth tries to prop her husband up as he descends into a guilt-ridden hell but she soon falls victim to the same condition. Her whole life literally becomes a nightmare, in which she relives the event that has brought her condition about. Her life becomes unbearable and she commits suicide.

Who does Lady Macbeth kill?

Lady Macbeth does not personally kill anyone. She conspires in the murder of the king, Duncan, though, and actively encourages Macbeth to kill him. It is Macbeth who does the actual killing. Lady Macbeth plays no part in the many further killings that Macbeth engineers. Soon after the killing of Duncan the two don’t even talk to each other.

What made Lady Macbeth go crazy?

Lady Macbeth is partly responsible for the kind of killing that was taboo in Mediaeval Scotland – murdering one’s king, murdering one’s relative and murdering a guest in one’s house. In killing Duncan the couple did all three. She begins to have nightmares about the murder and, in particular, the blood on her hands, which she can’t get rid of no matter how hard she scrubs. That drives her to suicide.

How does Lady Macbeth feel after the killing of Duncan?

Once Duncan is killed Lady Macbeth is pleased that her ambition to be the wife of a king has been achieved, but that feeling very soon turns sour as guilt begins to eat away at her. She then she has feelings that she can’t live with, and ends up killing herself (one of 13 suicides in Shakespeare’s plays ).

Is 2016 film Lady Macbeth based on Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth character?

No. Lady Macbeth is a 2016 British film based on Nikolai Leskov’s novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District , and starring Florence Pugh.

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis Essay

This essay will provide a character analysis of Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” It will explore her role in the play, her manipulative and ambitious traits, her psychological progression, and her ultimate downfall, reflecting on her impact on the play’s events. Moreover, at PapersOwl, there are additional free essay samples connected to Lady Macbeth.

How it works

In the canon of English literature, “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare stands as a timeless exploration of ambition, morality, and the human psyche. Among the play’s memorable characters, Lady Macbeth captivates audiences with her powerful and complex personality. Her role is pivotal, influencing the narrative’s events and themes. This essay explores Lady Macbeth’s character, shedding light on her influence on the tragic plot of “Macbeth” and her significant contribution to the play’s universal themes.

• 1 Lady Macbeth as the Catalyst for Macbeth’s Ambition
• 2.1 Unsexing and the Desire for Power
• 2.2 Femininity as a Tool for Manipulation
• 3.1 Guilt-induced Madness
• 4.1 A Symbol of Regret and Destruction
• 4.2 Reflection on Lady Macbeth’s End
• 5.1 Conclusion

Lady Macbeth as the Catalyst for Macbeth’s Ambition

Lady Macbeth’s desire for power is unmistakable.

Her ruthless ambition is the spark that sets Macbeth’s actions into motion. Among the most iconic moments in “Macbeth” is Lady Macbeth’s chilling monologue, where she implores the “spirits that tend on mortal thoughts” to make her ruthless. She then employs this newly imbued ruthlessness to manipulate her hesitant husband into committing the unfathomable act of murdering King Duncan. Her words, “screw your courage to the sticking place,” are a chilling testimony to her unyielding influence over her husband’s actions. Through this, we see how Lady Macbeth’s ambition directly influences Macbeth’s actions and leads to both their downfalls. Her insatiable desire for power and control not only instigates the plot’s tragic turn but also contributes significantly to the destructive consequences that follow.

Lady Macbeth and Gender Roles

Lady Macbeth defies the gender norms of her time with her assertive and ambitious nature, traits typically associated with masculinity in the Elizabethan era. In contrast to the quiet, submissive ideal of womanhood, Lady Macbeth presents herself as a dominant and persuasive force capable of orchestrating regicide to achieve her ends.

Unsexing and the Desire for Power

Even more striking is Lady Macbeth’s expressed desire to abandon her feminine traits to achieve her ambitions. She implores spirits to “unsex” her, seeking to cast off what she perceives as the constraints of femininity. This defiance of gender norms underscores Lady Macbeth’s strength and determination, illustrating her character’s unique and complex nature.

Femininity as a Tool for Manipulation

Yet, despite her desire to shed her femininity, Lady Macbeth uses her gender to her advantage. She manipulates the expectations of her womanhood to control Macbeth, oscillating between a nurturing wife and a cunning instigator. This sophisticated use of her femininity adds further depth to her character, showcasing the complexity of gender roles and power dynamics in the play. Lady Macbeth’s character, therefore, stands as a powerful commentary on gender and power, resonating with audiences even today.

Lady Macbeth’s Psychological State

Lady Macbeth’s psychological journey is a captivating aspect of “Macbeth”. She begins as a figure of unyielding ambition, steeled and ruthless. Yet, as the play progresses, the guilt resulting from her actions seeps in, causing a dramatic transformation. The once-determined woman, driving her husband towards regicide, starts crumbling under her conscience’s weight.

Guilt-induced Madness

Her guilt manifests as a haunting madness that erodes her mental stability. A key scene that illustrates this shift is her infamous sleepwalking scene. Haunted by her actions, she imagines her hands stained with King Duncan’s blood and obsessively tries to wash it off, uttering, “Out, damned spot!” This vivid manifestation of her guilt shows how it eats away at her psyche, bringing her to a state of utter torment.

Lady Macbeth’s mental decline presents a poignant exploration of guilt and the human mind. Her tragic downfall isn’t just physical but psychological as well. The character who was once the embodiment of ambition and ruthlessness becomes a symbol of guilt-induced madness, offering a compelling narrative of psychological deterioration. This tragic transformation is a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked ambition and guilt.

The Tragic End of Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth’s demise is one of the most poignant elements of the narrative. It encapsulates the tragedy of a character who once wielded immense power and influence but succumbs to guilt and madness. Her end contrasts starkly with her initial stature, highlighting the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition.

The tragic irony of Lady Macbeth’s death is profound. The same woman who had the audacity to push her husband to commit regicide, driven by an insatiable thirst for power, is reduced to a state of utter desolation. The power she once desired becomes the very cause of her downfall, highlighting the cautionary message of the play.

A Symbol of Regret and Destruction

Lady Macbeth’s death is more than just the conclusion of her life. It symbolizes the dire consequences of moral corruption and boundless ambition. Her guilt, symbolized by the imaginary bloodstains on her hands, never ceases to torment her until her last breath, turning her life into a cautionary tale of regret and destruction.

Reflection on Lady Macbeth’s End

Reflecting on Lady Macbeth’s tragic end, one can’t help but perceive it as a poignant testament to the perils of unchecked ambition and moral degradation. The once fierce and ambitious Lady Macbeth exits the narrative as a shattered version of her former self, a stark reminder of the destructive power of guilt and ambition. Her demise not only adds a layer of tragedy to the play’s plot but also reinforces the themes that define this Shakespearean masterpiece.

Influence on Popular Culture

Lady Macbeth’s legacy extends beyond the pages of the play. Her character has influenced numerous adaptations and reinterpretations in popular culture, contributing to the ongoing relevance and popularity of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” She continues to symbolize unchecked ambition and the tragic consequences it can lead to, ensuring her enduring presence in literary discussions and cultural references.

Lady Macbeth’s character is a captivating study of ambition, power, gender norms, and psychological struggle. From her initial assertiveness and control to her eventual guilt-induced madness, her character remains a crucial driver of the play’s tragic narrative. Her downfall underlines the inherent dangers of unchecked ambition and the lasting psychological impact of guilt. By understanding Lady Macbeth’s character, we can gain a deeper insight into the play’s universal themes, teaching us valuable lessons about ambition, guilt, and the human psyche.

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Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Shakespeare's most treacherous female villain fascinates readers

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Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most infamous female characters. Cunning and ambitious, she is one of the protagonists of the play, encouraging and helping Macbeth carry out his bloody quest to become king. Without Lady Macbeth, the titular character might never venture down the murderous path that leads to their mutual downfall.

In many respects, Lady Macbeth is more ambitious and power-hungry than her husband, going so far as to call his manhood into question when he has second thoughts about committing murder.

Masculinity and Femininity

Along with being Shakespeare's bloodiest play, " Macbeth " is also the one with the greatest number of outright evil female characters . Chief among them are the three witches who predict that Macbeth will be king and set the play's action into motion.

Then, there's Lady Macbeth herself. It was unusual in Shakespeare's day for a female character to be so boldly ambitious and manipulative as Lady Macbeth is. She's unable to take action herself, likely because of social constraints and power hierarchies, so she must persuade her husband to go along with her evil plans.

When Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan by questioning his manhood, Shakespeare equates masculinity with ambition and power. However, those are two qualities that Lady Macbeth possesses in abundance. By constructing her character in this way (with "masculine" characteristics), Shakespeare challenges our preconceived views of masculinity and femininity.

Lady Macbeth's Guilt

Lady Macbeth’s sense of remorse soon overwhelms her, however. She has nightmares, and in one famous scene (Act Five, Scene One), she tries to wash her hands of the blood she imagines has been left behind by the murders.

Doctor: "What is it she does now? Look how she rubs her hands." Gentlewoman: "It is an accustom'd action with her, to seem thus washing her hands. I have known her continue in this a quarter of an hour." Lady Macbeth: "Yet here's a spot." Doctor: "Hark, she speaks. I will set down what comes from her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly." Lady Macbeth: "Out, damn'd spot! out, I say! — One; two: why, then 'tis time to do't. — Hell is murky. — Fie, my lord, fie, a soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt? — Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?"

By the end of Lady Macbeth's life, guilt has replaced her incredible ambition in equal measure. We are led to believe that her guilt ultimately leads to her suicide.

Lady Macbeth is, therefore, a victim of her own ambition, which complicates her role in the play. She both defies and defines what it means to be a female villain, particularly in Shakespeare's time.

• 128 Unforgettable Quotes From Shakespeare's Macbeth
• The Theme of Guilt in "Macbeth"
• 'Macbeth' Quotes Explained
• Top 5 Female Villains in Shakespeare Plays
• Macbeth Character Analysis
• 'Macbeth' Characters
• 'Macbeth': Themes and Symbols
• 'Macbeth' Overview
• Famous Quotes From 'Macbeth'
• Understanding Macbeth's Ambition
• 'Macbeth' Summary
• The Roles of Women in Shakespeare's Plays
• The Top 6 Famous Shakespeare Characters
• Everything You Need to Know About 'Macbeth'
• Regan and Goneril Character Profile
• Why the 'Macbeth' Witches Are Key to Shakespeare's Play

William Shakespeare

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Lady Macbeth Quotes in Macbeth

Lady Macbeth as Powerful

The essay below uses this simple structure:, an introductory paragraph to summarise an answer to the question, one paragraph about the extract, one about the rest of the play, one about context., lady macbeth:, the raven himself is hoarse, that croaks the fatal entrance of duncan, under my battlements. come, you spirits, that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full, of direst cruelty. make thick my blood., stop up the access and passage to remorse ,, that no compunctious visitings of nature, shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between, the effect and it come to my woman’s breasts,, and take my milk for gall , you murd'ring ministers,, wherever in your sightless substances, you wait on nature’s mischief. come, thick night,, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes,, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, to cry “hold, hold”, starting with this speech, explain how far you think shakespeare presents lady macbeth as a powerful woman., write about:, how shakespeare presents lady macbeth in this speech, how shakespeare presents lady macbeth in the play as a whole., the essay below is written using a simple structure:, an introductory paragraph to summarise an answer to the question., one paragraph about the extract., one about the rest of the play., before you read the answer below, why not have a think about how you'd answer this question. i've highlighted the quotes i'd write about - do you agree or would you focus elsewhere also, which sections from the rest of the play would you focus on and what contextual factors influenced lady macbeth's presentation, most importantly, though, have a think about how you'd write that opening paragraph - answer the question in two or three simple sentences., an example answer, during the majority of the play, lady macbeth is presented as being a powerful woman who defies the expected gender stereotype of the caring, soft, gentle female. by the end of the play, however, she kills herself as she discovers that although she can order the rest of the world around, she cannot control her own guilt, right at the opening of this speech, lady macbeth makes her position known when she describes “my” battlements. the use of the possessive pronoun emphasises that she thinks of the castle walls as being her own. she follows this by calling “come you spirits.” the use of this magic spell has two effects on the audience: firstly, she is calling for dark magic to come and support her. this would have reminded the audience of the possibility that she was a witch and had all the evil powers connected with them. also, she is using an imperative here: “come you spirits.” she’s not asking them but telling them. this shows that she expects even the supernatural world to answer to her demands. one of the things she demands is that they “stop up the access and passage to remorse.” this means that lady macbeth doesn’t want to feel any regret for what she is about to do, which would make her powerful. she is no longer going to be slowed down by feelings of compassion or care in her pursuit of power. finally, she says that the spirits should “take my milk for gall.” here, she is asking that her own milk be turned to poison. this suggests that she is turning something caring and supportive into something deadly, giving her even more evil powers. also, milk is pure white and suggests innocence and purity so lady macbeth is asking that what is innocent and pure about her gets turned into something deadly. throughout this speech lady macbeth sets herself up as being someone very powerful, who is able to control even the spirits., her power continues throughout the play. lady macbeth suggests the murder and talks macbeth into it – showing that she is powerfully persuasive. she also plans the murder, showing that she is intelligent as well. she also stays calm under pressure, such as when macbeth arrives with the daggers from the murder scene but lady macbeth returns them to the scene so that they don’t get caught. she is also able to manipulate macduff when she faints in shock after they discover duncan’s body. you could easily argue that lady macbeth’s ambition was more powerful than macbeth’s, and that the murder wouldn’t have ever happened with her involvement. she is determined to become powerful and will stop at nothing to get it. at the end the play though she is caught sleepwalking, and she confesses to all that they’ve done. this is interesting, however, as while she is sleep-walking she is not in control of herself so she is not really aware of what she’s doing. it could be the case that lady macbeth herself never felt guilty, though she couldn’t hide her real feelings from her dreams. in the end, she dies. malcolm claims that she killed herself quite violently, but since it happens off-stage we cannot be sure. what is clear is that although she could push macbeth around, and trick macduff, and even order the spirits to do her bidding, she couldn’t order the blood off her own hands., shakespeare presents a very powerful female character in lady macbeth, and although this would have been quite radical for people in jacobean england there were other powerful, female role models to choose from: bloody mary or queen elizabeth are good examples. this play, however, was written for king james who had just taken the throne of england, and james was not a fan of queen elizabeth – who had killed his mother, mary queen of scots (and he might not even have been a big fan of his mum, because she married the man who killed his dad) as a result, james would have enjoyed seeing this powerful woman become such a villain and then getting punished for her crimes..

Macbeth Key Character Profile: Lady Macbeth ( AQA GCSE English Literature )

Revision note.

Understanding Lady Macbeth and, crucially, what themes Shakespeare uses her character to explore is vital to understanding Macbeth as a play. Even in her absence from the stage she remains a crucial character to the plot of the play and influences how the other characters – particularly Macbeth – act. 

In this detailed character profile you will find analysis of how Shakespeare uses the character of Lady Macbeth across his text to explore the following themes:

• Jacobean Gender Roles
• Corruption of Nature

This page also includes advice on how to answer an exam question on Lady Macbeth.

Although understanding Lady Macbeth is crucial in understanding Macbeth as a play, it is equally important to understand how she contrasts to other characters in the play, and what Shakespeare uses these other characters to represent. See our  Macbeth: Characters  page for detailed analysis of each of Macbeth’s major characters.

How does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth?

The best way to understand characters in a Shakespeare play is to explore how they relate to the overarching themes of the play. In this case, how Shakespeare uses the character of Lady Macbeth to explore the themes of ambition, gender and the supernatural.

Lady Macbeth and Ambition

• Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth display the fatal flaw of ambition throughout the play:
• The fatal flaw, or hamartia , is a common feature of tragedy
• Typically, in a tragedy , this fatal character flaw will result in a character's demise, or death
• Shakespeare conforms to the conventions of tragedy by having both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth consumed by their hamartia and, ultimately, dying
• For more of the conventions of tragedy see our Macbeth: Writer’s Methods and Techniques page
• This makes Macbeth a true tragic hero : unlike Lady Macbeth, he is at first presented as brave and loyal, and has redeeming qualities
• It is just his ambition that is his downfall
• Conversely, Lady Macbeth cannot truly be considered a tragic hero because she is not presented at the play’s outset as sympathetic
• At the outset of the play, she has no doubts about the plan to murder King Duncan
• Macbeth, on the other hand, wrestles with his conscience when weighing up whether to commit regicide
• Therefore, it could be argued that an audience would have more sympathy for Macbeth:
• She is less bullish  about the murder of Duncan
• She has lost control of her speech
• She has lost the ability to control Macbeth, or the people around her
• She ultimately loses her mind and commits suicide
• Later in the play (in Act V, Scene I), we see that her resolve  and authority have disappeared:
• Her hubris (overconfidence) leads her to commit crimes that would have been considered truly shocking to a Jacobean  audience:
• This hubris comes with a fall, and she is consumed by guilt and fear of religious consequences
• For more on regicide , and religious beliefs in the Jacobean era, see our Macbeth: Context page

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s Relationship: Exploring Jacobean Gender Roles

• Shakespeare explores ideas about gender roles through the character of Lady Macbeth
• She is shown to subvert  the typical characteristics of a woman in that era:
• She is not loyal and dutiful  towards her husband, Macbeth
• She is not subservient  to her husband, or other men, but rather controlling and manipulative
• She is not loving, or nurturing, or compassionate: she feels no pangs of conscience when planning, or remorse after, the regicide of King Duncan
• Therefore, Shakespeare presents the audience with a woman who is thoroughly untypical of Jacobean societal norms
• It could also be argued that Shakespeare presents a role reversal  in the traditional Jacobean relationship between a husband and a wife:
• Typically, a man, and especially a husband, would have:
• authority over his wife, but Lady Macbeth seems to have authority over both Macbeth, and even the castle, Dunsinane, that they live in (she calls them “my battlements”)
• agency  to act as he pleases, but Lady Macbeth influences, or even manipulates, his actions in the first two acts of the play
• Interestingly, this role reversal incrementally switches back to societal norms over the course of the play:
• As the play progresses, Lady Macbeth has less and less authority over her husband
• Macbeth begins to keep secrets from Lady Macbeth (the assassinations, visiting the witches for a second time) and having increasing agency
• By Act V, he assumes the typical, dominant role of a husband, and Lady Macbeth is reduced to a feeble, powerless wife
• Shakespeare could be suggesting that because she is a woman, Lady Macbeth is less capable of handling the power that comes with being a king or queen
• He could also be suggesting that women have less capacity to deal with guilt
• She commits suicide while Macbeth fights bravely until the last

Lady Macbeth and Corruption of Nature

• She cannot maintain her authority over Macbeth
• She cannot handle the consequences of regicide , and commits suicide as a result
• Shakespeare may be presenting a moral message here to his Jacobean audience: disrupt the proper Christian order and prepare to face devastating consequences
• The Jacobeans believed in the Great Chain of Being , which asserted a rightful hierarchy of all things in the universe, as set out by God
• Kings were above men, and men were above women in this hierarchy
• For more on the Great Chain of Being , see our Macbeth: Context page
• Because Lady Macbeth both plans to usurp  the throne, and has the ability to control her husband, a man, she can be seen as disrupting this established order
• For this she is punished
• The witches also seek continually to disrupt the natural order of things by manipulating the weather, and human beings
• She also is childless, which marks her as an unnatural wife

Lady Macbeth Exam Question

In order to get top marks for your essay, it is very important that you know the format and requirements of the exam paper and the nature of the exam question. It is also vital that you know how to plan an answer in the Shakespeare exam and are aware of what you need to include to get the highest grade. In this section you will find:

• an overview of the exam
• a plan for a Lady Macbeth question
• a Lady Macbeth essay model paragraph

Overview of the Shakespeare Exam

• A Lady Macbeth question would be part of Section A of your GCSE Paper 1
• The essay is worth 34 marks: 30 for the quality of your essay, and 4 for the level of your spelling, punctuation and grammar
• In your question paper you will find an extract from the text of Macbeth and only one question
• Revise the plot of the play 
• Revise some selected quotations from different parts of the play
• This is challenging because the exam is what’s called “closed-book”, meaning that you will not have access to a copy of the text (other than the printed extract) in your exam
• Therefore, in order to refer to the play as a whole it is important to:

For a much more detailed guide on answering the Macbeth question, please see our revision notes on How to Answer the Shakespeare Essay Question .

It is not a good idea to try to guess what theme or character may come up in the exam. This often results in students focusing their revision on topics that won’t come up. Remember, the examiners can set a question on anything related to the text, and it is also important to note that the examiners stress that “there is no such thing as a character or a theme question”. The exam question may be on a combination of character and theme, or the relationship between two characters, for example. Therefore, the best approach is to understand thoroughly the major ideas explored by Shakespeare in the play. See our Macbeth theme and context pages for more on these ideas.

Plan for a question on Lady Macbeth

Below, you will find a template for a plan for the following exemplar question on Lady Macbeth. It is always worthwhile spending a good deal of time planning an answer at GCSE, with examiners repeatedly reporting that the highest marks are awarded to those students who have clearly set aside time to plan their essays. For more information on planning a response, and approaching the Shakespeare question in general, see our comprehensive revision notes here .

Exemplar question

Starting with this extract, how does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman? 

Write about:

• how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman in this extract 
• how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman in the play as a whole

[30 marks] 

AO4 [4 marks]

Act I, Scene VII

Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s unwillingness to follow through with their plan to murder King Duncan

LADY MACBETH

    Was the hope drunk

    Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?

    And wakes it now, to look so green and pale

    At what it did so freely? From this time

    Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

    To be the same in thine own act and valour

    As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

    Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,

    And live a coward in thine own esteem,

    Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'

    Like the poor cat i' the adage?

    Prithee, peace:

    I dare do all that may become a man;

    Who dares do more is none.

    What beast was't, then,

    That made you break this enterprise to me?

    When you durst do it, then you were a man;

    And, to be more than what you were, you would

    Be so much more the man. 

A Lady Macbeth Essay Model Paragraph

Below is a model paragraph for the past paper question above. For a full model answer, including annotations on why the response would be given full marks (and, therefore, represents a Grade 9 response) click through to our Shakespeare: Model Answer page.

Lady Macbeth is certainly presented as perhaps the most powerful of all Shakespeare’s characters in Act I of Macbeth. Increasingly, however, Lady Macbeth loses hold on her power, and is progressively sidelined by her husband. In this scene, the final scene of Act I, she still assumes the dominant and controlling position in her marriage: in a manner thoroughly atypical of a Jacobean woman, she has the power to hurl insults at her cowed husband. She calls him a “coward” and “pale and green”: these adjectives denoting sickness suggesting that he is both weak physically, but also mentally. Here, Lady Macbeth still assumes the dominant role in the relationship, and is able to manipulate Macbeth into following through with their plan to commit regicide, despite the fact that he has just stated adamantly “we will proceed no further in this business”. This power that she holds over Macbeth begins to wane as the psychological consequences of committing such a sacrilegious act increase. In the banquet scene, Shakespeare presents a desperate Lady Macbeth attempting to calm a visibly agitated Macbeth, who is hallucinating and vociferously ranting at a ‘ghost’. Unlike earlier in the play, Lady Macbeth is unable to have Macbeth bend to her will. She still uses the same insulting language (“shame”) and imperative verbs but, this time, to little or no effect. Moreover. from the point of the murder of Duncan, Macbeth begins to keep secrets from Lady Macbeth (such as the plans for assassinating Banquo and Fleance), which shows not only his increased agency, but also of a power dynamic in the relationship changing: gradually, he is becoming more powerful as Lady Macbeth’s power decreases and her influence wanes. This could be Shakespeare criticising what he saw as unnatural power dynamics in marriage. It could be argued that Shakespeare is presenting the gender roles in a relationship (so unusual at the play’s outset) increasingly conforming to societal expectations, since the magnitude of the crime they have committed – the mortal sin of regicide – is assumed to be too much for a woman to handle.

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Author: Nick

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

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• Lady Macbeth: Character Analysis

In a play that is abundant in evil occurrences, Lady Macbeth is the overriding source of evil in the first act. Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan, despite Macbeth listing eight reasons against the murder. When Macbeth is alone, we discover that he is a loyal thane to Duncan, not a murdering savage.

When Duncan is in his house at Inverness, Macbeth comes to a decision not to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth, who decided strongly against murdering Duncan, to go ahead with their plan to murder Duncan.

Lady Macbeth is very successful at persuading him to do things that he knows are wrong. Macbeth is not an evil person, but when he is allowed to be influenced by Lady Macbeth, he is vulnerable to committing deeds he knows are wrong.

Lady Macbeth entirely breaks the stereotype of women being kind and benevolent in the first act. After Macbeth writes home telling of his murderous plans, Lady Macbeth begins talking to evil spirits. Because women often lack the ruthlessness to kill someone, Lady Macbeth asks the spirits to make her male.

One of the most vivid descriptions of Lady Macbeth’s wickedness is directly after Macbeth announces to her he does not want to kill Duncan. This speech epitomizes Lady Macbeth’s evilness. She is ruthless, and her evil accounts for the murders that occur throughout the play Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth is far more savage and ambitious than her husband, yet she convinces Macbeth to commit the murders that will make them king and queen.

Macbeth is without his wife’s cruel and uncompassionate attitude towards life. Lady Macbeth is aware that her husband is genuinely a gentle person. However, she is able to manipulate Macbeth into committing evil deeds in order to achieve her desires.

Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth lacks enough courage and killer instinct to murder Duncan. Lady Macbeth might be a more vicious individual, but she is more afraid than Macbeth about killing Duncan. She never mentions herself committing the murder, and she always insists upon Macbeth executing the killing. The opportunity arises for Lady Macbeth to murder Duncan, but she decides not to.

This is the first humane feeling that we see from Lady Macbeth in the play. Her desires and inspiration are very strong, but when the opportunity presents itself, she cannot carry through with the act. Therefore, she uses her husband’s vulnerability to persuasion to achieve her dreams.

The relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is based on political triumphs, not love. Lady Macbeth often accuses her husband of talking but not carrying through his ambitions. Although she often talks about becoming queen of Scotland and murdering Duncan, she never does anything to help this cause. The qualities that it takes to murder a king are not present in Lady Macbeth.

She recognizes this and convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan so she can achieve her dreams. Macbeth’s reign as king of Scotland will be short, yet she will enjoy royal luxuries long after her husband is dead.  Lady Macbeth is only concerned with the advantages she can have by being married to Macbeth. If Macbeth becomes king by murdering many people, she can reap the benefits of his killing without doing anything.

When Macbeth considers not murdering Duncan, Lady Macbeth quickly becomes offended and she accuses her husband of not being a man. Just mentioning the prospect of not murdering Duncan infuriates Lady Macbeth. She refuses to accept the possibility of failure and she is obsessed with the process of gaining absolute power.

Lady Macbeth has become totally engrossed in becoming queen of Scotland. She is relentless in her pursuit of this goal, and she will kill anyone who is in the way of the throne. She is able to influence Macbeth into murder by telling him they are presented with an extraordinary opportunity.

When Macbeth presents the possibility of failure, Lady Macbeth becomes enraged and attacks his cowardliness and manhood. Nothing will stop Lady Macbeth from achieving her goal of becoming queen. She is completely aware of the consequences of murdering Duncan, but she disregards them. Before the murder, she calls night to cover up the murder.

Lady Macbeth at least can acknowledge that the murder is wrong and immoral by calling down darkness to hide her murder. She is not completely a ruthless psychotic, and she knows the difference between right and wrong.

This, however, further emphasizes the desire and ambition that Lady Macbeth possesses to be queen. She realizes the numerous negative effects of murdering Duncan, but she neglects them because, more than anything else, she wants to be a queen.

Lady Macbeth is plagued by her desire to become a queen. In the pursuit of her ambitions, she will sacrifice everything. She follows this advice in everything she does. When she sees Duncan murdered, she immediately pretends to faint. Unlike Macbeth, who has expressed doubts about becoming king, Lady Macbeth is merciless against anyone who is in the way of the king.

Because Macbeth is unsure about murdering Duncan, Lady Macbeth does everything possible to convince Macbeth to carry out their plans. Lady Macbeth’s desires rely on Macbeth’s murders.

In order to accomplish her dreams, Lady Macbeth manipulates and convinces Macbeth to do things that he is against. But because of her intense ambition to be queen, nothing can prevent her from achieving this goal.

Related Posts

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• Character Analysis of Robinson Crusoe’s Friday
• Hamlet: Horatio Character Analysis
• Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth: Manipulation & Ruthlessness
• Analysis of Witches in Macbeth

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Characters - AQA Lady Macbeth in Macbeth

Macbeth has a small cast of characters. Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth have the main roles and their ambition and eventual downfall is key to the storyline.

Part of English Literature Macbeth

Lady Macbeth in Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is even more ambitious and ruthless than her husband. As soon as an opportunity to gain power presents itself, she has a plan in mind. She uses her influence to persuade Macbeth that they are taking the right course of action and even takes part in the crime herself.

For a while she is able to suppress her actions but eventually she becomes unable to deal with the guilt of what she has done. She becomes unable to sleep, and mentally unstable, eventually dying in tragic circumstances.

Social and historical context

In both Shakespeare's time and in the time when the play takes place, women had a much lower status than would be the case today. Wives were little more than the property of their husbands and had no legal rights. Their main purpose was to have children and support their menfolk. Lady Macbeth appears to be a much more feisty character with ambitions and desires of her own; these are characteristics that could imply a lack of femininity. It is worth remembering that in the original performances of the play the part of Lady Macbeth would have been played by a man and this would have helped to emphasise the character's masculine qualities.

Analysing the evidence

Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here And fill me from the crown to the toe topfull Of direst cruelty: make thick my blood, Stop up th'access and passage to remorse, That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th'effect and it. Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers, Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature’s mischief.

What are we told here about Lady Macbeth's character?

Show answer Hide answer

How to analyse the quote:

" Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here And fill me from the crown to the toe topfull Of direst cruelty : make thick my blood. Stop up th'access and passage to remorse , That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between Th'effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts, And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers , Wherever in your sightless substances You wait on nature's mischief." (Act 1 Scene 5)

• 'Come, you spirits' / 'Come...you murd'ring ministers' - Lady Macbeth feels powerful enough to summon and command evil spirits
• 'unsex me' - she asks for her feminine qualities to be removed
• 'direst cruelty' / 'Stop up th'access and passage to remorse' - she wants any feelings for others she might have replaced with absolute wickedness and doesn’t wish to feel sympathy for others
• 'fell purpose' - the most important thing to her is achieving her ambition

How to use this in an essay:

Lady Macbeth has just learned her husband's news about the Witches' predictions and that King Duncan will be staying with them that very night. In a scene of shocking ambition she calls upon the powers of evil to assist her ( 'Come, you spirits' / 'Come ... you murd'ring ministers' ). In this respect she is very much like the Witches casting a spell to summon up evil spirits. She feels that the most important thing for her to achieve is her 'fell purpose' and will stop at nothing to accomplish this. She even wishes to remove her own feminine qualities ( 'unsex me' ) and trade 'remorse' for 'direst cruelty' . All of this would have been doubly shocking to Shakespeare's original audience because it was spoken by a woman.

More guides on this topic

• Plot summary - AQA
• Quiz - Plot summary
• Quiz - Characters
• Themes - AQA
• Quiz - Themes
• Form, structure and language - AQA
• Quiz - Form, structure and language
• Dramatisation - AQA
• Sample exam question - AQA

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Notes on Character Sketch of Lady Macbeth in English

Back to: Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Table of Contents

A Loving Wife

In the play, Lady Macbeth is the wife of the protagonist Macbeth and one of the most powerful presences of a female character in literature. 

She is introduced to us in the play reading a letter from her husband who calls her his “ dearest partner of greatness. ” It tells us of their successful partnership in life and love. 

She presents us the limitation which a woman faces who wants to achieve like a man in a culture fashioned after norms created by men for men. So, in her very first soliloquy, one can see her successfully describing the attributes of ambition normally reserved for a man and despairing over the fact.

Ruthless & Manipulative

She suppresses everything traditionally aligned with femininity. In her own words, everything her husband lacks after the aid of fate and metaphysical forces, she makes it up with “ the valour of her tongue. ” 

Anti-feminine

Her character tells us of the restraints imposed upon a female personality due to gender-based preconceptions. Her character is constantly trying to “ unsex ” itself and she asks spirits for her blood to “ make thick ” and “ stop up the access and passage to remorse .” In a very anti-mother way, she wants to stop having any feminine feelings and sensitivity.

The sharp non-conformity in her character brings her very close in similarity to the three witches in the play. She has an empowered sense to defy established authority, it is proved by the way she designs the murder of King Duncan without allowing any guilt or inhibition of fear.

A Powerful Lady

Towards the last two acts in the play, her strength gives in, her ambition descends into guilt and further into madness and death. The knowledge of misdeeds done by her husbands under her fast provocations disintegrates her psyche.

She finally confesses her crimes and her death shocks Macbeth into a realm in which he finally loses himself. The character of Lady Macbeth is the guiding support to the character of Macbeth.

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Manipulation in Lady Macbeth

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Essay: Characteristics of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

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• Subject area(s): Literature essays
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• Published: 7 June 2021*
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• Words: 2,435 (approx)
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Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” presents us with a shocking look into the minds of some of the most despicable characters ever created, a brutal and often disturbing reminder of the very worst of human nature. Nonetheless, it manages to create a pair as loathsome as they are pitiable and it is my view that both Macbeth and his “partner of greatness” have traits that redeem them to an extent, although both’s reprehensible characteristics far outway their reputable ones. Macbeth’s tragic fall from grace, although rife with treachery and bloodshed, does not completely destroy his humanity. Similarly, his wife’s initial portrait as an opportunist of shocking depravity is not supported by her later disintegration to a state of dismal and guilt-wracked vulnerability. As is usually the case, things are not as simple as they may seem and I hope to reflect that in my response. The many horrific acts that Macbeth commits and his slow descent into demented tyranny can all be traced back to a fatal flaw in his character, his insatiable, “vaulting ambition” and desire for power. The extent to which this hamartia affects Macbeth is made clear long before he is influenced by his wife and even longer before these thoughts are acted upon, in fact it can even be seen in his first interaction with the Witches. Their prophecies, filled with predictions of his ascent to the throne, stepping over Duncan in the process, seem to strike a chord with Macbeth and leave him in a daze of abject shock and horror. His companion Banquo soon notices this and interrogates him bluntly, “Why do you start and seem to fear/Things that do sound so fair?” In retrospect it is clear that his fear is caused by a feeling of guilt at this outward expression of his “black and deep desires”. Whilst not inherently evil in and of themselves, the ambitious thoughts which stir within Macbeth are fulfilled only through bloody treachery. His subsequent murder of Duncan, a virtuous and respected King, who even Macbeth admits “hath borne his faculties so meek”, shows an utterly reprehensible lack in his morality, and one that is motivated in large part by his own desire for greatness, not by the corrupting influence of his wife. Yet another of Macbeth’s immoral traits is his deceitful nature, particularly in the wake of Duncan’s murder. It is Macbeth who urges his wife to “hide what false heart doth know”, to disguise their true feelings behind a mask of sorrow showing his own capacity for treachery. His dishonesty seems to know no bounds and he puts on an almost impressive display of “false sorrow” to distance himself from the crime, exclaiming “Had I but died an hour before this chance/ I had lived a blessed time”, appearing distraught at the death he has caused. His capacity for treason and dishonesty proves once again that Macbeth is completely unrelenting when it comes to fulfilling his prophecy. For this reason I believe that Macbeth, like his wife, acts ruthlessly based on his own insatiable ambition and as such I do not consider him any less villainous than his female counterpart. Even with his many nasty qualities now laid before us, I still believe that Macbeth has a variety of characteristics that somewhat redeem him. In fact, the play begins with a lengthy description of our “Brave Macbeth”, who is lauded for his valiant effort on the battlefield. In fact, in the beginning of the play it is Macbeth who is fighting against treachery, slaying the rebel Macdonwald in a stunningly brutal fashion, unseaming him “from the nave to the chops”. This courage is one of the only positive traits which remains with Macbeth to the bitter end. Even with the combined forces of England and Scotland pitted against him, Macbeth refuses outright to surrender, exclaiming “I’ll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hacked”. This indestructible will of the warrior is certainly something to be admired, even if it eventually becomes misdirected. Like his valiant nature, Macbeth’s undeniable love for his wife is a somewhat surprising and impressive side to his otherwise gruff character. The mutual trust that exists between them is seen in the first Act, where Macbeth immediately sends a letter to his “dearest love” to inform her of his meeting with the Witches. The strong, loving relationship which Macbeth has with his wife also allows us to see Lady Macbeth’s perspective on his character. Contrary to what his later actions would indicate, she believes he is “Too full o’ th’ milk of human-kindness”, too morally good to ever commit the heinous crimes required to ascend to the throne. This may imply that, while certainly influenced by his own internal ambition, Macbeth may never have acted upon it had he not been persuaded by his wife. This too makes us feel pity for the man, whose dastardly actions may not be entirely the fault of his own. Although the strong bond of love and trust between the two begins to break down in later scenes, Macbeth’s utterly desolate outlook on life following his wife’s death, exclaiming that life is “a tale / Told by an idiot”, shows that she remains an important part of his life and this devotion must be credited to him. A final quality that makes us feel empathy for Macbeth is his conscience, which despite being deeply scarred, never truly dies. We see this particularly before and in the aftermath of Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan, as he is immediately filled with a terrible regret and paralysing guilt. The apparition of a bloody dagger, a “False creation/ proceeding from the heat oppressed brain” shows that his psyche is tormented with sorrow and shame even before the crime is committed. Once carried out, the deed only haunts Macbeth further and he rapidly begins to lament it, hoping that the thunderous knocking at the castle gates would rouse Duncan from his eternal slumber, “Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!” His immediate sense of regret shows a glimmer of humanity that remains buried deep beneath Macbeth’s facade of brutality. The apparition of Banquo following his assassination is a physical manifestation of Macbeth’s guilt, showing that although he has sworn to continue his reign of tyranny, his guilt and therefore his conscience remain intact and haunts him to his last breath. Like her husband, Lady Macbeth leaves a lot to be desired in relation to her morality, and I would certainly agree with the characterization of her original portrayal as ruthless, ruled by ambition, not for herself, but for her husband. This is made plain from our first encounter with Lady Macbeth, in which she muses about what she perceives as her husband’s many shortcomings, which she believes she must help him overcome. In the eyes of Lady Macbeth, ambition is merely a catalyst for the destruction of others for personal gain. She claims that Macbeth is “not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it”. She fears that his morals are too strong to allow him to act on his desires and so resolves to do whatever is necessary to coerce him into carrying out the bloody usurpation, to “pour my spirits in thine ear”. Her methods of persuasion show once again her ferocious determination as she resorts to petty name-calling, drawing on traditional gender roles to insult his sense of masculinity. On more than one occasion she questions his bravery, goading him into believing that only through Duncan’s murder can he convince her of his courage, “When you durst do it, then you were a man”. Considering the cultural context of the play, at this time to question one’s manhood is to question their worth, and Lady Macbeth is well aware of that. Her harsh, insidious strategies show a fundamental nastiness which is awakened by her unrelenting desire to ascend to the throne by her husband’s side. But her ambition, however cruel, is made infinitely worse by her appeal to evil. An important distinction can be made here between characters such as Banquo and Lady Macbeth. Whilst Banquo too feels the stirring of desire within him, he immediately turns to the forces of good, the “merciful powers”, to beg for assistance in overcoming these dark thoughts. On the contrary, Lady Macbeth actually asks for malevolent spirits “that tend on mortal thoughts” to wrench any human emotions from her breast and instead fill her “from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty”. This seemingly absurd desire to be unfeeling and heartlessly cruel seems to show a deeply-rooted evil within Lady Macbeth which appears to ignore all morality. The climax of Lady Macbeth’s evil is undoubtedly her role in the murder of King Duncan, following which is a slow, gradual decline into madness, accompanied not by increasing bloodthirst as with Macbeth, but with a quieter, yet nonetheless all consuming guilt. She immediately realises that the horrific crime they have committed must be forgotten entirely if they ever wish to live peacefully. She urges Macbeth to ignore his feelings of guilt, explaining that “These deeds must not be thought/ After these ways, so, it will make us mad”. This powerful piece of ironic foreshadowing is something of a death warrant for Lady Macbeth, sealing her fate and dooming her to a drawn-out and painful downfall. She claims that their feelings of overwhelming guilt will soon pass, that “a little water clears us of this deed” however, it seems unlikely that even she believes this, especially considering her earlier comments about the power of such regret. The conflict between her emotions and her attempt at feigning remorselessness can be seen particularly in Act 2, Scene 3. With the discovery of Duncan’s corpse, Macbeth makes a spur of the moment decision to murder the two chamberlains, masquerading as a devoted and loyal subject of Duncan overwhelmed by rage. When questioned about this, Macbeth launches into a dramatic description of Duncan’s lifeless body. Before he can go any further, Lady Macbeth faints suddenly. While many claim that this is an attempt to distract attention from Macbeth’s incriminating speech, I believe it is entirely possible, and perhaps even likely, that this is a real response to the extremely stressful situation. While previously she had been able to meticulously plan every detail of the crime, now the horrific deeds appear to be spiralling out of control and she may finally begin to realise the magnitude and consequences of their actions “things bad begun make strong themselves by ill”. As Macbeth’s reign continues, her feelings of helplessness grow as she is often unaware of his horrific plans, such as the murder of Banquo, before which he urges her to “be innocent of the knowledge”. As their once trusting bond disintegrates Lady Macbeth does likewise. Whilst originally Macbeth’s actions were motivated by her, now he acts as a free agent, appearing to grow daily both in distrust and in his capacity for evil. It appears that to Lady Macbeth the murder of Duncan is a means to an end but she now laments privately that she has found nothing but grief despite finally achieving her goals, as she explains “Nought’s had, all’s spent, when our desire is got without content” As the brutality continues to build she begins to feel isolated and powerless, decreasing in stature as shown by her total absence from Act 4. Instead of enjoying a triumphant career as queen, as a truly evil character might, she is destroyed by guilt, unable to live her life and reduced to nothing more than a shell of her former self. Lady Macbeth’s all-consuming regret comes to the fore in Act Five, Scene One, where her inner turmoil is bared for all to see. Her guilt and paranoia give way to a fit of sleepwalking, witnessed by a court physician and one of her ladies-in-waiting. Carrying a lit candle, we learn that “she has light by her continually”. This is a stark juxtaposition to earlier imagery which appeared to shroud Lady Macbeth in darkness, showing a real development in her character and highlighting her withdrawal from the forces of evil. Her sleepwalking is accompanied by a delusional belief that her hands are stained with blood. An unambiguous reference to her own unforgivable crimes, she appears fixated entirely on cleansing herself of sin, and exclaims “Out damned spot!” in desperation. In a jumbled and almost incoherent string of exclamations she recalls the many bloody deeds committed by both Macbeth and herself. She appears particularly focused on the murder of Duncan, wondering incredulously “Who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” The references to blood, and particularly the blood of the slain King, draws parallels to earlier scenes where Lady Macbeth insisted on the impermanence of their guilt. Only now does she finally admit the weight of their actions and the long-term consequences they will have. She echoes the words of Macbeth following his murder of Duncan in claiming that “all the perfumes of / Arabia will not sweeten this little hand”. Undeniably, Lady Macbeth has changed entirely and bares almost no resemblance to her earlier portrayal. Whether or not we believe her crimes to be forgivable, it is clear that she has begun to atone for them, and this is the most important step on the path to redemption in my opinion. We learn of Lady Macbeth’s death soon after her final scene, apparently committed “by self and violent hands”. Her suicide shows a woman who is truly broken, no longer able to live with her terrible guilt. There is a stark contrast here between the manners in which Lady Macbeth and her husband meet their demise, while Lady Macbeth takes her own life, Macbeth refuses outright to “play the Roman fool”. In many ways this shows a role reversal between the two, with Lady Macbeth, once appearing cold and unfeeling, now allowing her emotions to control her and the originally hesitant and honourable Macbeth now portrayed as a stoic and ruthless tyrant. In this way I believe that it is an unfair assessment to present Lady Macbeth as simply a merciless opportunist. While she may begin this way, she shows her true colours in later scenes and appears truly repentant. Similarly, Macbeth, although possessing many positive traits that help to redeem him, is more than capable of wickedness and, unlike his wife, appears to grow daily in his capacity for wrongdoing.

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