Lady Macbeth Analysis

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Although the consequences of treason are indefinite to the law, they have resounding influence on the mind and ones emotions. Guilt acts as an impetus for change, since the effect of guilt is insuperable. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a renowned tragedy, which utilizes components such as the intriguing character development that allure the audience. Shakespeare portrays the consequences of treason, the severity of ones culpability, and the eternity of guilt through the transformation of Lady Macbeth caused by the murders committed by Macbeth.

In Macbeth, Shakespeare conveys the change in Lady Macbeth’s attitude in order to convey the consequences of treason beyond the law. Lady Macbeth is described as a dominant and powerful female character before and immediately after the murder of King Duncan. The characterization of Lady Macbeth is portrayed through situational irony as she is depicted as a strong-willed and confident figure, which is incongruous as it counters the common expectation that women are weaker beings than men. This situational irony is emphasized through lines such as “unsex me ,” and “take my milk ” that tacitly portrays Lady Macbeth’s promptness to abandon her femininity that makes her seem fragile, in order to achieve royalty and power. This characterization is exhibited in the commanding tone that is set by the syntax where the pronoun such as “me” is placed after the verb like “unsex” which makes these phrases an injunction. However, Lady Macbeth’s morbid thoughts and actions surprisingly do not last long after Macbeth murders King Duncan and Fleance, as she becomes less confident and more submissive to Macbeth; thus, contradicting the previous attitude of challenging gender stereotypes. Differing from he...

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...r be clean, ” the word “ne’er” exhibits the long amount of time guilt has tormented Lady Macbeth since the murder; thus, supporting the recurring motif of time. In contrast, in Act 1, Lady Macbeth welcomes Macbeth’s “good news ” referring to the “ignorant present ” and the “future ” implying her satisfactory expectation for the future and disregards the insignificance of the present. The different response to the upcoming future before and after Macbeth’s murders confirms that the growing discontent towards the traverse of time as it feels differently, whilst guilt is taking over the mind.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth’s transformation through ambition, power, struggle, and death proves the insurmountable nature of guilt. Neither time nor success can heal the fateful ascendancy that guilt leaves behind. Guilt acts as an obstacle to reach success.

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