From Queen to Broken Woman
Think being queen would make Lady Macbeth happy? Think again. After the murder, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as remorseful, unsympathetic and confident, but this confidence quickly crumbles under the weight of guilt.
Initially, she seems in control, telling Macbeth his regret is "a foolish thought to say a sorry sight" and dramatically fainting when Duncan's body is discovered. She's still playing the manipulation game, showing little care for Macbeth's mental state - only for securing the crown.
However, once she becomes queen, everything changes. Her relationship with Macbeth deteriorates rapidly. She becomes distant and lonely, unable to speak directly to her husband and instead telling servants to "say to the king." When Banquo's ghost appears at the banquet, she desperately tries to cover for Macbeth's breakdown, telling him he's looking "but on a stool."
Remember: Lady Macbeth's transformation from powerful manipulator to isolated, guilt-stricken queen shows how ambition without morality leads to self-destruction.
The irony is devastating - she gained everything she wanted but lost herself in the process.