One of Shakespeare's most controversial, diabolical, influential, ambitiously manipulative and frightening female character, Lady Macbeth acts as a catalyst by giving birth to the “ murderer” Macbeth and by entirely breaking the stereotype of women being kind and softhearted. She serves as the main influence in Macbeth's life. He trusts her with everything he has. She is, after all, his "dearest partner of greatness." (I, v, 13)
Macbeth was written at a time (1600s) when a large majority of people were interested in witchcraft. Hence,witchcraft play an essential role in the theme of the play. In, act one scene five, Lady Macbeth first appears on stage, reading a letter which shows she is well educated enough to know the difference between right and wrong. This is highly unusual because many women weren't educated at that time, as they were at the centre of the domestic sphere and they were not thought to be smart or equal to men.
Many people are in favour that Lady Macbeth is the fourth witch as she carries all the qualities of a witch: immoral, deceitful, malicious and even shows sign of mystical powers.Upon hearing the witch's prophecy,she invokes the evil powers and says, " 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.” (I, v, 41-43) She wants to become bold & determined enough to persuade and instigate her husband to kill Duncan.She wants to be crowned just as much as Macbeth.
On the other hand, Duncan is completely deceived by her thoughtfulness. When Duncan first arrives at the castle, Lady Macbeth acts as a welcome hostess, when in reality she has different plans for Duncan.She was so eager to have Duncan dead that she almost killed him herself-
“...Had he not resembled My father as he slept, I had done't''
In the beginning we observe that she seems unstoppable as she mocks Macbeth of his manliness and courage , when he was in a state of fix and fear in the murder scene. Her deceptiveness is relevant in -
"..look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't.'' Here she is planting the seed for Macbeth's downfall just like the witches. We also see that in the midst of the chaotic dinner party where Macbeth is frightened by Banquos ghost she, on the other hand retains her composure. We see a duality in her character as she consistently acts differently when she is with her husband than she is alone. Her realism ''a little water clears us of this deed'' soon changes to despair in the sleepwalking scene as she;horrified by blood utters in an unconscious state which proves her repentance and her desire to retrieve back to her womanhood and during her soliloquy she refers to her little hand suggesting a delicate nature :
''What, will these hands, ne'er be clean?''…..''All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
hand.''(V, i, 43-44).
She becomes a somnambulist, because of her inner guilt.
"To metamorphose ones character through years of experience and age is salutary. To deteriorate ones character through a short period of fast decisions and unsure actions is perilous." Lady Macbeth gives truth to this theory. The impulsive mistakes and power-hungry tactics led ultimately to her dramatic flaw. She feels vulnerable by all that is happening, both physically and mentally as she lacks Macbeth's imagination, which proves fatal to her and enabled her to take a prompt action by ending her own life as she had less ability to deal with the impact and legacy of their crimes.
References:
Picture Courtesy- edited from Google Images
Citations: Macbeth( unabridged version)
https://englishstudyhub.blogspot.com/2015/12/character-analysis-of-lady-macbeth.html
https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/49233.html
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