Lady Macbeth: a Female Leader #6


For this blog post I would like to discuss the role of Lady Macbeth as the leader in the relationship between herself and Macbeth. Even though her name only labels her as married to Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is has proven to be a much stronger character than Macbeth. I believe Shakespeare deliberately describes Lady Macbeth this way from the very beginning. A very clear example of this is found in Act 1, Scene 5, where Lady Macbeth states That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty” (31-33). This quote alone insinuates that a woman would have never been described as anything but innocent and sweet. I love Lady Macbeth’s character because of this. She defies the stereotypical mannerisms of a woman to be her own person. This quote clearly presents the idea that Lady Macbeth is strong and assertive and she is the leader of the organized crime. Next, in Act 1, Scene 7, Lady Macbeth lays out the whole plan for Macbeth and he is scared to commit murder.  But Lady Macbeth does not hesitate to insult him by telling him he is not a man if he does not murder Duncan, she speaks in this certain way to manipulate him. Then Macbeth states, “May you only give birth to male children, because your fearless spirit nothing that isn’t masculine” (72-74). From this quote I believe that Shakespeare is trying to create the idea that Macbeth believes he is less masculine and strong than his own wife. And that he is taken back by how strong and independent she is. In conclusion, I believe that Lady Macbeth exemplifies a strong female character from early on in literature. When creating her character, Shakespeare created a legend and the idea that woman are even strong than men.

Comments

  1. Cassie MckenzieOctober 5, 2017 at 9:45 PM

    I agree that Lady Macbeth plays an extremely important role. I think that quote defines her personality as an extremely strong individual, because not only does that quote insinuate that a woman would have never been described as anything but innocent and sweet, but it quite literally means that if you were to unsex her, strip her of the fact that she is a woman, or roles reversed, a man, she would still be just as powerful either way. However, do you think it was intentional that Shakespeare portrayed her to be evil?

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  2. UnknownOctober 8, 2017 at 4:02 PM

    Paige, good post! I focused on the role and personality of Lady MacBeth as well. She is such an interesting character. As you said, she only has her name because she is married to MacBeth which is interesting because that would make me think that she has no power or authority, but really she does! Lady MacBeth is portrayed having more power and authority than her husband, MacBeth. I found it sort of ironic that Shakespeare did this. Are women more important than men because she is so powerful or our they not because she takes her husbands name? I like how we read this book after reading Bitch Planet. We go from reading in Bitch Planet that women are used and powerless to reading in MAcBeth that Lady MacBeth is demanding her husband to kill King Duncan. A a female, it was more comforting to be reading MacBeth.

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