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The Similarities Between Lady Macbeth And The Weird Sisters

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In Susan Snyder's work, "Macbeth, a modern perspective," she presents an interesting perspective on Lady Macbeth as a fourth witch, making connections between her character and the Weird Sisters. Lady Macbeth shares certain qualities with the Weird Sisters, which supports her being a fourth witch. Similar to the witches, she possesses an ability to influence Macbeth's actions and manipulate his ambitions. Lady Macbeth's persuasive language and her determination to spur her husband to commit murder can be compared to the spells and chants of the Weird Sisters. For instance, when she implores the spirits to "unsex" her and "fill me from the crown to the toe top-full / Of direst cruelty" (1.5.41-42), she exhibits a desire for supernatural powers akin to the witches. Additionally, Lady Macbeth's association with darkness and the supernatural is evident in her invocation to "Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here" (1.5.39-40). This connection further emphasizes her …show more content…

While the Weird Sisters present Macbeth with titles and prophecies, they do not explicitly provide instructions on how to achieve them. It is Lady Macbeth who takes charge and supplies the "verbs" to carry out the actions necessary to attain those titles. This shows her agency and moral responsibility as a human being, as she actively plans and participates in the execution of their ambitions. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth experiences guilt and remorse for her actions, traits not typically associated with witches. After the murder of King Duncan, she is tormented by her conscience, sleepwalking and attempting to wash away the metaphorical bloodstains. Her soliloquy, "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" (5.1.37), reflects her moral struggle and her desperate attempt to rid herself of the guilt associated with her role in Duncan's

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