Lady Macbeth As A Villain
AN ACCOUNT OF LADY MACBETH AS A CHARACTER AND A VILLAIN
“Every villain is a hero in his own mind”-Tom Hiddleston, this is the case of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s’ Macbeth. She is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous and frightening female characters. As she is Macbeth’s wife, her role is very significant in his rise and fall from royalty. During Shakespearean times, women were regarded as weak, insignificant beings that were there to procreate and look beautiful. They were not thought to be as intelligent or equal to men.
Though in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth had a great influence on her husband, Macbeth. Her role was so large, that she uses her position to gain power, stay strong enough to support Macbeth, and fails miserably
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She became an image known for her ambitious nature. Her thirst for power and disregard for life was shocking to the audience, and her husband as well. The moment she learns of the prophecies, she decides to stand behind Macbeth and see him to the throne. She is immediately set on her quest for more power. As it reads “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be/ What thou art promised” (1.5.13-14).This moment is very important because it is the turning point where she decides that she might have to kill to fulfill her quest for royalty. This is one of the traits that portray her as a villain; her thirst to …show more content…
At a banquet, Macbeth is certain he sees the ghost of his murdered former companion, Banquo. Macbeth’s mental state is declining and Lady Macbeth takes strength where her husband lacks. Lady Macbeth says to their guests, “My lord is often thus/ And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep /seat. / The fit is momentary.” (3.4.56-59). If Macbeth spoke any further, he could be exposed of his secrets of murder, but Lady Macbeth conceals his burst of indecorous behavior. However appalling she may be, she is sublime.” Lady Macbeth is then proven to be the strong and supportive wife. Thus, without her constant support, they could have been uncovered in their
Lady Macbeth Character Analysis
1227 Words | 5 PagesThroughout most of the play, she is portrayed as powerful and confident, and more daring than Macbeth himself, though this image changes when she shows signs of weakness, resulting in her death. In Lady Macbeth’s first appearance in the play, Act 1, Scene 7, she behaves in contentious ways that might lead the audience to question her morals. After reading the letter in which Macbeth shares the news, the first words in her soliloquy show her determination and ambition: “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor - and shalt be what thou art promised!” The fact that she states that he shall be what is promised and become king, shows that she is aware of her own strengths and influence over Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Analysis
544 Words | 3 PagesIn the Renaissance era, William Shakespeare wrote the tragedy Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is a character in Shakespeare’s Macbeth that plays the wife of Macbeth. In the beginning, Lady Macbeth was the lady in charge of the marriage and household to become Queen of Scotland. Toward the middle through the end of the play, she suffers of guilt for her part in the crime.
Examples Of Lady Macbeth's Guilt
1054 Words | 5 PagesAlthough introduced as a thoroughly hardened, ambitious woman, Lady Macbeth’s seemingly unbreakable character shatters when she is consumed by the demon of guilt. The guilt of Lady Macbeth seems nonexistent when she persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan, but the heinous acts she and her husband commit throughout the play strain her slowly. Eventually, the guilt Lady Macbeth harbors emerges from her subconscious and crumbles her. The downfall of Lady Macbeth reveals that even the toughest, strongest, and most powerful people can succumb to guilt. At the commencement of William Shakespeare’s
Gender Stereotypes In Shakespeare's Macbeth
1183 Words | 5 PagesAs Lady Macbeth continues to hide her “weak” attributes by displaying a stronger shell, she also reveals her sense of ambition. Although Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both seek power, it is obvious that power is what drives Lady Macbeth. From the second she knew about the witches’ prophecies, she made it her goal to become King and Queen. When she creates a plan to murder King Duncan, Macbeth shows he is nervous, Lady Macbeth finds this problematic and asks him to “project a peaceful mood, because if you look troubled, you will arouse suspicion.” (1.5.63-65).
Lady Macbeth Quotes
835 Words | 4 PagesShe progresses throughout the play from a seemingly atrocious and inconsiderate creature to a very fragile woman. In the beginning of the play, she is very assertive and athirst for power. For example, she pushes Macbeth to kill Duncan in order to fulfill the witches’ prophecies. Towards the end of the play, she seems to be a scared, and regretful woman that questions her and her husband’s quest for power. Overall, Lady Macbeth is a self-driven, ruthless, and resilient woman in Shakespeare’s play.
Lady Macbeth Deceptive Analysis
789 Words | 4 PagesShakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a power hungry and vindictive women, whose character is against the stereotypes of a Jacobean woman. Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a deceptive woman, who uses the fact that she is a woman as a weapon. ‘Why, worthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength to think.’ Lady Macbeth is talking to Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth Masculinity Quotes
107 Words | 1 PagesWilliam Shakespeare portrayed the character Lady Macbeth to be extremely ruthless, malicious and manipulative. Thus, being the reason she could easily convince Macbeth to do her will, yet still put on such a convincing performance in front of those who knew nothing of her and her husband’s actions. Lady Macbeth shows her complexity constantly throughout the story when she shares her view-point on masculinity by demasculinizing her own husband, when she strategically plans the murder of the King Duncan, and finally when she finally goes crazy because of the guilt she possesses for not only her own actions but also turning her own husband into a
Who Is The True Villain In Macbeth
501 Words | 3 PagesWho is the True Villain in Macbeth Historian Lord Acton once cautioned, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men. " In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the three witches use their supernatural powers to lead Macbeth astray from his destiny, which ultimately leads to many murders and the corruption of Scotland.
Similarities Between Macbeth And The Great Gatsby
1959 Words | 8 PagesLike men, she has the trait to be gruesome and diabolical in nature. She has determined for herself the course to be pursued and nothing can hinder her. She does not need the prophecy of the witches to urge her. She is aware of her strength and she is resolute in her aim. Knowing Macbeth’s weakness,
Strengths And Weaknesses Of Lady Macbeth
569 Words | 3 Pages“I laid the daggers ready; he could not miss em. Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t.” (II, ii, 11-13) Lady Macbeth is only strong enough to
Essay On Lady Macbeth Is Evil
505 Words | 3 PagesLady Macbeth is truly an evil character. In the beginning of the play, it tells how much Macbeth is a fierce warrior, but coming home the witches came. As soon as Lady Macbeth heard about the prophecy, she becomes the fierce warrior and Macbeth bends to her every whim. Lady Macbeth is always making Macbeth feel awful, (Act 3, scene V, line 58) “Are you a man?”.
Lady Macbeth's Loyalty Analysis
624 Words | 3 PagesShe is a loyal though misguided wife, not without tenderness and not without conscience. Lady Macbeth’s willingness to sacrifice her femininity exposes her loyalty towards Macbeth. After reading the letter regarding the witch’s prophecies, she decides she must do whatever it take to make Macbeth King: 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.
Lady Macbeth's Downfall
1367 Words | 6 Pages“Looks like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it”(Shakespeare 1.7) this truly defines Lady Macbeth and describes her being someone that acts one way in certain situations and then in a contrary manner in others and also shows her manipulative personality and exploits her victims. Lady Macbeth is sharp at convincing and uses people for her need which she does throughout the play. In the play, The Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth is ultimately responsible for Macbeth’s undoing because her ambition supported his greed and provoked his downfall. Lady Macbeth with her demanding and forceful comments triggered Macbeth 's weakness which leads Macbeth to agree on the murder.
How Is Lady Macbeth Evil
714 Words | 3 PagesTo begin, the relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth was a strong, loving, equally based relationship. She was devoted and loyal to him until her unfaithful day. After Macbeth was told the prophecies, he immediately sent a letter to his wife, calling her his dearest partner. This shows how Macbeth treats her as an equal and was truly in love with her. Also, she was Macbeth’s rock, the person he could depend on, his comfort, his confidence and safety and
How Does Lady Macbeth Influence Her Husband
868 Words | 4 PagesThe play Macbeth written by Shakespeare focuses on the rise and fall of the main character, Macbeth. Macbeth’s one critical decision was largely influenced by his wife, Lady Macbeth, and this influence is exemplified early on in the play. In Act I Scene vii, Macbeth seemingly decides against killing King Duncan; however, Lady Macbeth persuades him to go ahead with the deed through her compelling argument. Moreover, Lady Macbeth’s ability to influence her husband so greatly demonstrates the strength of their marriage. By appealing both emotionally and logically to her husband, Lady Macbeth very easily convinces him against his own conscience.
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