How is Lady Macbeth presented at the start of the play?

Women are typically seen as kinder and weaker than men but LM asks the potentially evil supernatural to come to her “Come you spirits”

How does LM subvert our typical expectations of Jacobean women?

She views femininity as a weakness: asks spirits to rid her of her maternal instincts “take my milk for gall”, “Unsex me here”

She is presented as the dominant one in her relationship 

How is LM presented within her relationship with Macbeth?

She and the witches have androgynous features - the Witches have “beards” and Lady Macbeth asks spirits to “Unsex her”: as they all are capable of manipulating Macbeth this signifies the power of women

How does Shakespeare use a rejection of gender norms to symbolise LM’s powerful nature?

Cunning and Manipulative - She convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan - “Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”

His weak spots - uses his ambition and fear of being seen as a coward to manipulate him into killing Duncan , “too full of the milk of human kindness” , “Are you a man?”

They start to fail. Banquo’s ghost scene: turning point! Her power over Macbeth starts to fade away - “Are you a man?” doesn’t get reaction she wants 

In manipulating people so when it starts to not work she slowly becomes powerless - LM can only achieve her ambitions through Macbeth so when he starts to push her away she becomes weak , contrasts her figure presented in Act 

 At first it’s Macbeth who struggles with his guilty conscience but by the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is driven mad by guilt

What is Lady Macbeth like at the End of the play?

 She starts sleepwalking. the doctor calls this a “Great perturbation in nature” because her mind is so disturbed that it’s affected her ability to sleep soundly 

What does LM do that reflects her unstable mental state?

Symbolism: Sleepwalking was thought to be unnatural in Shakespeare’s time - sleep is the “Balm of hurt minds”, so the fact that Lady Macbeth can’t sleep peacefully emphasises her madness

What does Shakespeare use to emphasise LM’s madness?

Her dreams: she keeps washing her hands in the hope that she can wash away her feelings or guilt just as easily as the blood after Duncan’s murder: “Out, damned spot!”

Guilt and isolation affect lady Macbeth so much that she kills herself - she can’t live with what she’s done 

English (UK)

Flashcard

Lilia

United Kingdom

DEFAULT (England)

English Literature

Macbeth: Lady Macbeth Character Profile

Explore the detailed profile of Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. Find out about her strengths, goals, and what she's passionate about. Read key quotes and analysis, including quotes about killing Duncan, manipulation, guilt, and ambition. Plus, get a Banquo character analysis!

Lady Macbeth: A Complex Character in Shakespeare's Tragedy
Lady Macbeth is a pivotal figure in William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," known for her ambition, manipulation, and eventual descent into madness. This character analysis of Lady Macbeth in Macbeth Act 1 reveals a woman driven by her desire for power and her willingness to push her husband towards regicide.
<ul>
<li>Lady Macbeth's character arc spans from a ruthless conspirator to a guilt-ridden, broken woman</li>
<li>Her influence on Macbeth is crucial to the play's plot and themes</li>
<li>Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth to explore concepts of gender roles, ambition, and the corrupting nature of power</li>
</ul>

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis PDF: Summary, Quotes, and Key Points from Act 1

Flashcards

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis PDF: Summary, Quotes, and Key Points from Act 1

Flashcards