What part does Lady Macbeth play in Macbeth’s downfall Essay Example

in battle at the hands of the king's sons and Macduff. During this time, women were undervalued and held little importance in society as they were seen as possessions of their husbands. Lady Macbeth's introduction occurs when she receives a letter from her husband detailing the witches' prophecy.

After being convinced that Macbeth will become the king, Lady Macbeth's aspirations and ambition are fueled. When she meets Macbeth, she encourages him to assassinate the current king so that her husband can become the new ruler. It is possible that her love for him and eagerness to help his progress are behind this decision.

Lady Macbeth may have multiple motives for persuading Macbeth to kill the king, such as gaining his respect and becoming queen to access power. However, it is evident that she needs to convince him since he is hesitant due to his close relationship with the king.

Lady Macbeth persuades and directs Macbeth to carry out the murder, despite his initial reluctance. Although Macbeth ultimately commits the act, Lady Macbeth's influence and planning are critical factors. Additionally, she assumes the responsibility of keeping Macbeth sane after the killing and successfully soothes him as he descends into madness.

Although initially supportive and reassuring, Lady Macbeth eventually becomes overwhelmed by the burden of guilt and descends into madness. This is demonstrated in her sleepwalking scene, where she appears frail and helpless. Unable to bear the weight of her actions, Lady Macbeth takes her own life. The portrayal of Lady Macbeth as an evil character stems from her role in encouraging Macbeth's regicide and the belief that she only desired his kingship so that she could become queen; this

has led many to view her as selfish and malevolent. Consequently, many actresses who play Lady Macbeth depict her as a purely villainous figure corrupting Macbeth.

Despite being depicted with a fierce countenance, flowing red tresses, and a crazed expression, some argue that viewing her as the embodiment of evil is an overly exaggerated portrayal that only emphasizes one aspect of her character. This presentation makes her similar to an archetypal pantomime witch who can manipulate Macbeth into committing murder and appear more dominant than her spouse, leading some to believe she is under demonic influence.

Lady Macbeth's speeches can be interpreted as wicked and ambiguous, which may lead one to believe she does not love her husband. In fact, in one quote she implores, "Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty." This suggests that evil spirits possess Lady Macbeth and turn her into a cruel woman rather than her being innately wicked. She goes on to request for the night to become thick with smoke from hell so that no light or heaven could penetrate it. It is evident from this speech that Lady Macbeth's transformation is due to possession by evil spirits rather than an inherent lack of goodness.

The quote portrays a deeply wicked character through the use of language. Her speech is filled with violent words such as 'murdering ministers', 'direst cruelty', and 'wound' which reveal a gruesome side to her personality. These words are forceful and help in demonstrating that she is becoming increasingly violent and capable of any act. Additionally, some of the words

used paint an unpleasant picture, such as 'unsex me', 'thick blood' and 'smoke of hell'. These images show the extent to which she is ready to go, as well as her appalling character.

The phrase 'unsex me' indicates a desire to remove all feminine aspects, conveying a belief that as a woman she may not be capable. This is why she is often depicted as dominant and powerful, surpassing her spouse. Additionally, the phrase 'take my milk for gall' conveys a rejection of all facets of femininity, and is a gruesome image indicating a desire for her milk to become bile.

The speech contains several forceful words that reveal the speaker's wickedness, including 'knife', 'gore', 'crook', and 'cruelty'. These words feature hard consonants ('k', 'g', and 'cr') which highlight her strong and unwavering personality. Moreover, she explicitly expresses her intention to bring about Duncan's death by saying, "O never shall sun that morrow see."

'Despite the common portrayal of Lady Macbeth as heartless and cruel, if I were to play her character, I would depict her as a loving and supportive wife who is willing to go to great lengths to support her husband in his pursuit of becoming king.'

In my opinion, showcasing her in a more intricate way would unveil various aspects of her character. I believe that she is determined to influence Macbeth into becoming a king, and she's willing to go to great lengths to exhibit her evil and domineering persona, just so Macbeth would listen to her. She cannot stand the thought of Macbeth not achieving his dream and ambition of becoming a king, fearing he might end up unfulfilled, bitter, and resentful. Thus,

she feels obliged to be both loving and supportive to exert pressure on him to attain his objectives. The play offers credible evidence that portrays her not only as pure evil, but as a loving and supportive companion. We can deduce that she is not inherently evil since she has to allow evil spirits into her body to manifest such a behavior.

It is evident that the woman feels incapable of committing the act due to her weakness as a female, as seen in her plea to be unsexed. This suggests that she was not inherently evil, but rather, evil spirits may have influenced her for the sake of supporting her husband. Additionally, she cannot bring herself to kill the king because he reminds her of her father, as stated in the quote: 'Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done' t'.

This indicates that Lady Macbeth lacks the ability to take her own life, due to displaying such sentiments, rendering her improbable to be entirely wicked. Additionally, Lady Macbeth's collaboration with her husband in planning and perpetrating the assassination is further proof of her not being malevolent. Their powerful affection appears to motivate them and facilitates their unwavering teamwork. Whenever Macbeth experiences hesitation, Lady Macbeth efficiently convinces him, perhaps exposing his true desires. Consequently, they commence preparations for the assassination together, implying a joint endeavor.

Macbeth takes charge and enhances the initial plan, as illustrated by his quote "Will it not be received with blood? Those sleepy two of his own chamber, and used their own daggers, that they have done't?" His firm ideas highlight how he builds upon Lady Macbeth's suggestions, demonstrating

their exceptional teamwork. They appear to inspire, assist, and refine each other's concepts.

It appears that the couple derives a thrill of a sexual nature from conspiring to commit the murder, highlighting the intensity of their bond. While Macbeth physically carries out the deed, Lady Macbeth aids him by retrieving the knives. This is evident in the quote "Give me the daggers...".

'I'll gild the faces of the grooms with blood.' The teamwork displayed by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth indicates a strong bond of support between them, providing reason for Lady Macbeth's unwavering backing of her husband's quest for the throne. Macbeth's reluctance to commit the murder and his wavering resolve suggest that he may not have gone through with it without Lady Macbeth's persuasive techniques, as she presents compelling arguments throughout the play that ultimately persuade him to take action.

In the first place, she reminds Macbeth that it was his own suggestion to assassinate the king. This could make him feel foolish or timid for devising the plan without following through. She also mentions that he made a vow to her to carry out the deed and claims that he no longer loves her if he reneges on his promise. In her own words, "From this time, such I account thy love."

Lady Macbeth is putting their relationship at risk by pressuring Macbeth to commit the deed, as she believes it will prove his love for her. This torment may cause him to feel foolish and inadequate. Lady Macbeth accuses him of being fearful and calls him a coward, telling him to "live like a coward in thine own esteem." She also insults his bravery by

saying he "look[s] so green and pale."

By implying that he is a coward, his wife can trigger feelings of embarrassment and vulnerability in him, achieving her intention. This can be even more impactful since men were traditionally expected to have authority over their spouses. Thus, these statements may compound his uncertainty and lead him to believe that he must disprove her to regain control in their relationship.

Throughout her attempts to convince him, she repeatedly ridicules and teases him, belittling his masculinity by stating that he is not a true man and using the phrase "when you durst do it, then you were a man." As a result of this behavior from his own spouse, he may feel powerless and foolish. Being told that he lacks genuine masculinity would understandably cause humiliation and feelings of inadequacy. This sense of shame could potentially drive him to comply with her wishes even more strongly.

The woman's tactics involve making the man feel inadequate by constantly pushing him to give in to her. Additionally, she reminds him of his aspirations and desire to become king. To emphasize this point, she quotes, "Was the hope drunk wherin you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?" She uses teasing and belittling comments to make him feel powerless, but also encourages him by reassuring that they will succeed as long as they remain determined.

In the text, she encourages him to find courage and promises that their endeavor will be successful. She uses a compelling argument, saying that she would rather kill her own infant than break a promise made to him. Her exact words were, "I have given suck and know how tender

'tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this." This demonstrates her willingness to make sacrifices for his success and potentially cause guilt if he does not try as hard as she does. The shocking violent imagery is meant to motivate him into action.

The woman's speech is a combination of gentle and fierce words, including "smiling," "tender," "love," "milks," "suck," "babe," "nipple," "plucked," "boneless," and even the violent phrase, "dashed the brains out." Her language is so powerful and atrocious that it has the potential to overwhelm listeners.

Lady Macbeth plays a crucial part in the murder, persuading and strategizing with Macbeth. Although he may initially feel guilt and sorrow, her sudden push motivates him to proceed. As proof of her participation, she declares, "and you shall put the night's great business into my dispatch."

Following the preparation of murder for Macbeth to execute, Lady Macbeth evidences practical and sensible solutions to evade suspicion. Macbeth's emotional state after the act may comprise a medley of fear, regret, and guilt. In order to safeguard himself, Macbeth murders two guards without disclosing it to Lady Macbeth. The sight of the bodies compels Lady Macbeth to suddenly faint. The reason behind her collapse could be numerous.

Lady Macbeth may be concerned that Macbeth's excuses will be exposed and is therefore acting impulsively to distract from the issue. However, she appears genuinely shocked and overwhelmed by what she sees, causing her previous strength to vanish. The death of the King was

meant to signal the end of their wicked actions, with Lady Macbeth shedding her bad qualities as she believed they were no longer necessary. Caught off guard and unprepared, Lady Macbeth's compassionate nature has resurfaced suddenly. It is possible that she now understands the gravity of her actions and feels consumed by regret and guilt. Additionally, Macbeth did not warn or rely on her anymore, leading to feelings of isolation.

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were once a team, but their dynamic begins to shift as Macbeth starts making decisions without consulting his wife. This causes Lady Macbeth to feel like they are growing apart and losing control of the situation. Perhaps thinking it's easier to keep things from his wife, Macbeth takes matters into his own hands by killing the guards and later ordering the deaths of Banquo and his son. He believes this is necessary because of the witches' prophecy that Banquo's son will become king.

In this quote, Macbeth is seen planning a violent act, stating "Here shall be done a deed of dreadful note." Banquo is ultimately killed, but his son manages to escape. Following this event, Macbeth and his wife hold a banquet at their castle, which marks their first official state event as king and queen, providing them with an opportunity to impress their subjects.

The couple faces a significant challenge in proving their competence and strength as rulers while demonstrating their affection for one another. Unfortunately, Macbeth's secretive actions have led him to become consumed with numerous problems. This scene sheds light on the shifting dynamic of the Macbeths' relationship, ultimately resulting in emotional and spiritual distance between them. Macbeth's

fixation on the apparition of his deceased friend Banquo induces him to lose touch with his marriage. Despite this, Lady Macbeth acts promptly to provide comfort and assistance.

Trying to maintain the appearance of normalcy, she begins making excuses for Macbeth's unusual conduct, as evidenced by the quote "My Lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth." Additionally, she attempts to soothe Macbeth and bring his attention back to their surroundings, reassuring him with "why do you make such faces? When all's done you look but on a stool." Furthermore, she endeavors to persuade him that the ghost is a figment of his imagination since she cannot perceive its presence or comprehend its existence.

The quote 'stand not on the order of your going, but go at once' exemplifies her quick decision-making when faced with failure. She cancels the banquet and finds excuses for her husband, showing her heightened panic and desperation. Similar to when she convinced him to kill the king, she attempts to persuade him again using familiar methods. However, she struggles to understand his worries, as she cannot see the ghost. As a result, signs of her growing desperation begin to emerge.

Lady Macbeth's control appears to be increasingly desperate and focused on immediate results. Throughout their struggles, she has consistently sought practical and uncomplicated solutions, determined to ensure their continued success as a couple. However, by the end of the scene, their partnership has clearly collapsed, and Macbeth begins to rely on external forces such as the witches for support. In Act 5, Lady Macbeth is shown walking and talking in her sleep, appearing disconnected and disoriented from

reality.

We listen as she reminisces about the homicide she was involved in, attempting to retrieve her culpability and seeking a solution. There could be numerous explanations for her sleepwalking, including prolonged sleep deprivation due to recent events resulting in a near inability to sleep. Alternatively, her contribution to the killing could be tormenting her.

It appears as if she may be attempting to relieve herself of the guilt from the homicide by reciting the line, "Out dammed spot! Out I say," during the sleepwalking scene. This particular quote implies that she is trying to rid her hands of the blood from the murder. Previously, she had stated that water could wash away the evidence of the crime, yet presently it seems that the sight of his blood continues to haunt her thoughts.

Her reaction to the sight of blood appears to be profound, as she may struggle to remove the image from her mind and feel the need to purify herself. The combination of sleepwalking and obsessively washing her hands may indicate an inability to manage overwhelming thoughts. Sleepwalking may be a manifestation of this struggle. Moreover, Macbeth's departure to rendezvous with the witches could contribute to her sleepwalking episodes.

The character is suffering from extreme loneliness, which is causing her to feel like she's going insane and resort to talking to herself in her sleep. She has no one to confide in about her concerns and fears Macbeth's actions but he refuses to talk with her. This fear only worsens her already fragile mental state. The character takes responsibility for the murder and feels remorseful for its outcome. She also expresses empathy towards others affected by

the tragedy, as seen through her childlike inquiry about the whereabouts of the thane of Fife's wife.

The child-like innocence symbolizes regret in Lady Macbeth's actions, indicating a desire to return to a more pure state like that of childhood. Following her somnambulism, Lady Macbeth commits suicide as Macbeth succumbs to the witches' predictions. Upon hearing of her death, Macbeth reacts strangely saying, "she should have died hereafter: there would have been a time for such a word." Despite being told of her passing, he ignores the news likely due to an unwillingness to accept it.

The observation suggests that he is displaying an aloof and apathetic demeanor, potentially assigning fault for the occurrences to Lady Macbeth. He might be convinced that her persuasion prompted him into his choices, and any ensuing repercussions are solely her responsibility. It appears that he is experiencing emotional turmoil, uncertain of how to react to his situation. Abruptly, he feels impotent and lacking motivation, relinquishing his aspiration to rule and even exist. This provokes unease regarding his approaching downfall.

Shakespeare highlights Macbeth's imminent death by using Lady Macbeth's language in her sleepwalking scene. Despite societal norms portraying women as powerless, Lady Macbeth is depicted as a dominant and wicked character who convinces her husband to commit murder, making the play an unusual one. While Lady Macbeth played a part in Macbeth's downfall by persuading him to commit the crime, it was his own ambition that caused him to spiral out of control.

According to me, Macbeth's downfall in the play is still relevant to today's society as it was caused by his ambition. His mistakes can offer valuable lessons

to audiences on standing up for oneself and resisting external pressure, maintaining communication with team members, and avoiding overwhelming ambition that can consume an individual.