Lady Macbeth Feminist Analysis

In Macbeth, from the very beginning Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth deliberately trying to suppress her feminine qualities in order to show her power. She was an evil, scheming person whose greed and selfishness was a part of the destruction of her character. Her wicked character has a big impact on her husband, convincing him to kill Duncan.

Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most popular and daunting female characters. As Macbeth’s wife, her role is very important in Macbeth’s rise and fall from royalty. In Shakespearean times, females were considered as feeble and unimportant beings whose only use was to give birth, and for their looks. They were not by any means equal to men, nor intelligent. Though in this play, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as the biggest impact in her husband’s life. In her role, she uses her status in Dunsinane to gain power, stay sane enough to support Macbeth, and fails while their relationship falls apart. Everything about Lady Macbeth makes her the perfect villain for the play, mostly because of her capability to manipulate anyone that is around her.

Lady Macbeth plays a very superior role right from the beginning of the play. From his article, Lecture X, A.C. Bradley said this about her “Lady Macbeth is the most

commanding and perhaps the most awe-inspiring figure that Shakespeare drew.” Her lust for power and selfishness was shocking to the audience, as well as to Macbeth. When she learns about the prophecies, she resolves to support her husband and see that he gets the throne. Lady Macbeth instantly puts her priorities on more power. As it says in the play “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be -
What thou art promised.” (Act I, Scene v, v.

15-16). This scene is essential because it is the crossroads where Lady Macbeth realizes she may have to kill to get the power she desires. Macbeth is very unsure about killing King Duncan, but Lady Macbeth barrages him with words that inquiries his braveness. She also gives him an ultimatum, stating that his love to her is meaningless if he doesn’t oblige, using his love for her against him. The fact that she talks down to him so much, belittling his manhood and confidence is very manipulative, but it worked in her favor. She goes on to say to him “Screw your courage to the sticking place” (Act I Scene vii v 62). She was sure that her taunting could give her control over

Macbeth.
There is no questioning that she uses her close relationship to her husband to get them the power they crave. She uses taunting and persuasion to convince him to kill. Macbeth feels he must prove himself to her and therefore commit the murder. Lady Macbeth seems devious, but all of this is proof of her drive to help Macbeth get the throne. She plays a strong role and acts as an army towards her fight for power.
Macbeth becomes very nervous after killing Duncan. His wife proved to aid him by using her aptitudes to make up for his feebleness by encouraging him during the deterioration of his insanity. Lady Macbeth soon after becomes fearful, which could expose their wrongdoings along with Macbeth’s acts. She says to him “Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” (Act I Scene v, v. 73). It is evident that her husband needs support, and without her control, Macbeth would have feel sooner. Although he killed Duncan, it is actually Lady Macbeth that is in rule of the murder. She encourages him, “Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead - are but as pictures” (Act II Scene II, v. 66-68.)