Lady Macbeth's Downfall

971 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Macbeth character analysis

“Out, damn'd spot! out, I say!” (Shakespeare 213) is one of the many iconic lines from one of Shakespeare's plays, Macbeth. The play was Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedy that was based off of Holinshed's Chronicles. Macbeth is set in Scotland and was written for the king of England, King James I. The line itself is told to us by a mentally ill woman by the name of Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth’s personality was a factor in her deterioration that leads her to her death.

Lady Macbeth received a letter from her husband explaining to her the battle, his new title as Thane of Glamis and Cawdor and his meeting with the three witches. This shows us that Macbeth saw her as an equal and that they cared a great deal about each other. The letter shows that there is humanity within Lady Macbeth yet this is hidden from our eyes when she speaks to the spirits, saying “unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty… Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall,” (Shakespeare 41). This allows for her to be void …show more content…

Her mental condition has worsened to the point where she cannot be helped. She is a suicidal woman and she cannot hide from the fears in her head no longer. Lady Macbeth’s paranoia has taken over her mind and has locked her in “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard?...who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him.” (Shakespeare 213). She has admitted to helping kill Duncan, and she takes the responsibility of the death of Banquo and Lady Macduff which escalates her mental illness. Her personality has gone from strong and charming to ruthless and manipulative to terrified and suicidal. This causes Lady Macbeth to kill herself. It is not quite clear how she does die, but most choose to believe that she jumped out of the castle or cut both her

Show More
Related

  • Macbeth's Downfall

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare created a character in Macbeth who is strongly influenced in his decision making throughout the drama of The Tragedy of Macbeth. This drama is a Tragedy, hence the title, and has a hero, in Macbeth, who has a downfall. Readers become aware of the aspects that lead up to this predicament. Macbeth’s downfall was contributed equally from Lady Macbeth, the three weird sisters, and Macbeth’s ambition.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Charting His Downfall

    1287 Words  | 3 Pages

    This is my account of Macbeth’s downfall from a popular, successful soldier, quote “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won”, who has received great honours for his loyalty, his courage, his bravery and his nobility. At the end of the play the only respect he has is because of the fear that his subjects have of him.

    Read More

  • Downfall Of Macbeth's Downfall

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth, “A matchless soldier, kinsman to the king, wins the king’s battles and the king’s praise” however, “prompted by inner ambitions and external urgings”, he takes rash decisions conclusively ending in his atrophy of his title, power, and position (Bernad 49). Several factors contribute to the downfall of Macbeth, which produce a contagion effect; and ultimately end with his demise. The weird sisters disclose his prophecies which enlighten him about Duncan’s throne; Lady Macbeth abets Macbeth to realize his deep desires and come to the conclusion to murder Duncan; and Macbeth, the most significant contributor, makes his deep desires come to reality. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the weird sisters and Lady Macbeth are important contributors to Macbeth 's downfall, however, they are not mostly responsible. Unlike, the weird sisters and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth is the most prominent contributor to his downfall; whose actions, decisions, and state of mind lead to his ruination.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Courage Quotes

    892 Words  | 2 Pages

    The witches caused much confusion throughout the play, to Macbeth and anyone associated with them. For instance, when the witches spoke to Banquo and Macbeth they said, Hail thee, thane of Glamis/ Hail thee, thee of Cawdor/ that shalt be king hereafter.” This statement was directed to Macbeth, but it very much confused him, as he was thane of Glamis, but not thane of Cawdor or certainly not king. Moments later he was to be crowned thane of Cawdor by King Duncan. The actions of King Duncan led Macbeth to believe he was going to become king. Lady Macbeth, when reading about Macbeth’s encounter with the witches, automatically devised a plan for Macbeth to become king. This plan involved killing the king, but to convince Macbeth that it was supposed to happen, she extremely criticized him and put him down on all thoughts. Her emasculation of him subjected him into thinking, killing the king was the only way to gain

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Decisions Essay

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    When she learns Macbeth has been given a fortune of been given thane of cawdor then king and half the prophecy has become true, she knows if Macbeth is king she will be queen. She is willing to do anything to get it. On the night that Macbeth and lady macbeth have planned to kill Duncan. Macbeth is having second thoughts but Lady Macbeth is not letting him back down by saying he is a coward and she would do it if she was in his place by saying ”When you durst do it, then you are a man. And to be more than what you were you would be so much more than a man”. Macbeth is a hearty warrior and feels as though he has to prove to Lady Macbeth he is a man and he is not a coward. Therefore due to Lady Macbeths manipulation Macbeth murders Duncan. On Macbeths return Lady Macbeth is happy but Macbeth is Filled with regret Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth to forget what happened “ A little water clears us of this deed”. Which is Ironique as At the end of the play Lady Macbeth has been in the anxiety and it has finally eaten away at her and she has gone mad and keeps seeing blood on her hands. “Out damned spot out, I say !” which in turn leads to her own suicide and portrays Lady Macbeth as taking her fate into her own hands in an evil manner, However the guilt from doing the evil task highlighted Lady Macbeth was not as manly as she wanted to be and she still had feelings, showing the audience by her suicide as an act showing she was unable to withstand the guilt of being queen knowing the great evil she had to do to get

    Read More

  • Macbeths Demise

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    The tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare is based on a thane in whom is corrupted by greed and a negative ambition. The character Macbeth contradicts his moral responsibility in this play a great deal; many moral questions are brought forth to Macbeth. He questions himself and whether or not he should follow through with the evil deeds that he does. Macbeths ambition causes him to compromise his honour, he doesn’t take into consideration that he is being trusted and that every action that he takes will have a reaction. Macbeth attains his position as king unjustly. As is evident by the conclusion, justice prevails as usual and Macbeths demise is a result of his evil deeds.

    Read More

  • Lady Macbeth and Power in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lady Macbeth Amongst the most essential of characters in the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare is Lady Macbeth. Upon the introduction of Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth is brought into the plot of the play. In this soliloquy, Lady Macbeth comments on her thoughts after having read a letter from her husband, Macbeth, informing her about the witches' prophecies on the possibility of Kingship. A variety of well-known topics are explored, including the revelation of the true traits of characters such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised; yet do I fear thy nature, It is too full o'th'milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly, That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst strongly win. Thou'dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, 'Thus who must do' if thou have it; And that which rather thou dost fear to do. Than wishest should be undone. Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round, Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem To have crowned thee withal." -Lady Macbeth, Act 1 Sc5, Lines 13 -- 28 Her first thoughts are based on the reaction of the realism of Macbeth being Thane of Glamis, and possibly Cawdor as the witches predicted. This is expressed through the words "What thou art promised". The idea of having soliloquy interacting with the witches' predictions creates a sense of spirituality. This being Lady Macbeth's first appearance in the play is effective as it allows the reader to associate this sense of spirituality and evil with her character, that has yet to have any substance to allow the reader to interpret her role by. She continues by expressing her fear over not being able to "catch the nearest way" due to Macbeth's overly kind character. This is demonstrated through a variety of techniques. For example, Lady Macbeth explains how her husband would 'not play false' nor would he 'wrongly win'. This suggests a fair person with a kindness too powerful for him to be a false king, through murder. The extent of Macbeth's kind character is described as "too full o'th'milk of human kindness".

    Read More

  • The Downfall of Lady Macbeth

    583 Words  | 2 Pages

    serious if his wife was not more anxious than he was.  She, more than her

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Downfall Of Lady Macbeth

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    There were several aspects of Shakespeare’s novel ‘Macbeth’ that led to the downfall of Lady Macbeth. The mentality of Lady Macbeth in the play changes dramatically from the wife a Noble General, to an evil aggressive murderer (brought upon by the witches predictions), and finally a woman who had de-graded to such an extent that she took her own life.

    Read More

  • Macbeth- The Decline Of Macbeth And His Wife

    1359 Words  | 3 Pages

    Explore the ways the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth develop throughout the play. Making reference to Shakespeare's use of language and stagecraft, examine the ways the events of the play impact on them and their relationship.

    Read More

  • Why Does Shakespeare Present Lady Macbeth

    1538 Words  | 4 Pages

    This questions the existence of the spirits because eventually guilt and fear does stand in the way as she starts sleepwalking and finally commits suicide. Lady Macbeth believes that due to the fact that she is a woman, it won’t allow her to proceed with the murder of Duncan. She thinks that the only way that the plan will continue successfully is to call on the spirits and strip away all her feminine softness and care. She says ‘unsex me here’ asking the spirits to fill her body with the cruelty of a man. She also says ‘take my milk for gall’ which means that she wants all women features, such as the milk from her breasts, removed and replaced with ‘gall’ which is a poisonous substance that will turn her into an evil person.

    Read More

  • The Downfall of Lady Macbeth

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s desire and ambition leads to her eventual downfall. When Lady Macbeth hears of Macbeth’s prophecy she dreams of the glory and high-standing that awaits being queen. She cannot withhold her ambitions and she is willing to manipulate fate to bring about Macbeth’s prophecy. She invokes evil spirits to be filled from head to toe with cruelty to do the evil actions necessary to make Macbeth king and to remove all remorse and pity for her action from her heart. She is initially able to be involved in the treacherous deeds that are needed to bring about the prophecy quickly, but as the play progresses the weight of the merciless deeds fill her with remorse. The remorse and pain she feels for her wicked ways cause Lady Macbeth to lose control of her life and wither away until the weight of her deeds causes her to die. Lady Macbeth’s wish is partially granted, her mind becomes evil and enables her to do horrific things, but her soul remains pure and unsure of her actions and her remorse for her wicked ways leads to her destruction.

    Read More

  • Witches, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's Responsibility for Macbeth’s Downfall

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    and scheme to go and meet him. This shows that it is important for the

    Read More

  • MacBeth is Responsible for His Downfall

    685 Words  | 2 Pages

    MacBeth is Responsible for His Downfall. There were many wrongs committed in "MacBeth." But who should bear the major responsibility for these actions? The witches prophesying the truth? Lady MacBeth's scheming and persuasion?

    Read More

  • Macbeth As A Tragedy According To Aristotles Definition

    907 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the excursion to become king, Macbeth successfully murders King Duncan, Macduff’s wife and children, and with the help of a group of murderers Banquo; a brave general who will inherit the Scottish throne. Throughout the whole play, while such darker occurrences are used to create deep moods, Shakespeare also uses strong language and words. Such as when Lady Macbeth calls upon the gods to make her man-like so she will have the fortitude to kill King Duncan herself in this quote, “Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here. Make my blood thick. Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark.”

    Read More

More about Lady Macbeth's Downfall

Open Document