More handpicked essays just for you.
The role Lady Macbeth plays in the downfall of the protagonist
Macbeth characters
The role Lady Macbeth plays in the downfall of the protagonist
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Shakespeare's Presentation of the Decline of Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth first appears in Act 1, Scene 5 where she receives a
letter from Macbeth. This shows that she is an equal partner to
Macbeth and therefore must be quite important. She then goes on to
have a soliloquy. This is significant because it automatically creates
a high status for her and gives us the impression that she is a
important character because all the attention is on her. The letter
is an important dramatic device because she reads it alone without
Macbeth being there. It creates her status and shows that she is an
equal to Macbeth in their relationship because it says that Macbeth
might be “ignorant of what greatness is promised thee.” and immediate
establishes their relationship.
The blank verse, which has no rhythm or rhyme, also shows that she has
control over her language. In this blank verse she says that Macbeth
“wouldst wrongly win” which is saying that he is unable of completing
the deed because he is too good to follow it through. This suggests
that she is critical of Macbeth and doesn’t have any faith in him. She
has all the qualities that Macbeth lacks to commit the deed. She
continues to have a second soliloquy, which tells us even more about
her character. It tells us that she wants to have all her femininity
taken away from her. She wants the spirits to “make thick her blood”
and “ come to her women breasts and take her milk for gall”. She also
asks the sprits to “pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell” so
everything is dark so it will cover the evil deed that is going to be
committed.
In Act 1, Scene 6 Lady Macbeth is on stage without the presence of
Macbeth. This gives Lady Macbeth the dominance and power she is has,
even more. She also shows her ability to deceive in this scene and is
able to control her own facial expressions. This is because when she
greets Duncan, she becomes the innocent hostess when secretly she is
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.
as when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth want the darkness to conceal their evil deeds and in
Macbeth's Downfall in William Shakespeare's Play 'Macbeth' by William Shakespeare is a play set in 1040 about a Scottish general named Macbeth. It explores the transformation and effect of his ambition upon his life. Although it is set in 1040, it is written in the 1606 under the reign of James 1st. James' very recent accession to the English throne would have been of great contemporary importance and a play which focuses on Kingship would have roused interest too.
is turning into night, all the good things are going to sleep, and the evil
wink at the hand! yet let that be, /" (I, iv, 57-59). Macbeth is vexed
To explore the demise of Lady Macbeth, it is crucial to compare various scenes beginning with Act 1 Scene 5 and ending with Act 5 Scene 1. It is going to examine, using language, stagecraft and structure, how in the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth is manipulative and dominant over Macbeth, but towards the end of the play, the roles have reversed and Lady Macbeth is needed less and less. Towards the closing scenes, Macbeth becomes totally independent in his actions and decisions, in stark contrast, Lady Macbeth becomes isolated, anxious and tormented by the crime they have committed, so much so that she feels that is too much to bear, and by the end of the play, takes her own life.
serious if his wife was not more anxious than he was. She, more than her
encouraged “To want to get on.” Most of us we would never go as far
Darkness is often used at times in the play when a tragic event has occurred. The morning after Macbeth killed Duncan remained in darkness, because the sun did not rise. "Is ‘t the night’s predominance or the day’s shame that darkness does the face of the earth entomb when living light should kiss it?" (2:4, 10-12) Ross said these words referring to the unusual darkness of the day. He wondered if the night had become stronger than the day, and overcome it, so that the sun could no longer shine. He mused that it seemed as though the earth was shrouded with the darkness, when the light of the sun that brings life should have ensconced it. In this quote, darkness symbolizes death and light symbolizes life. It suggests that the whole country is as good as dead since their king has been killed, because the natural order has been disturbed. The disturbance to the natural order caused all of nature is disturbed, d...
Macbeth: Shakespeare's Comparisons and Contrasts. Throughout Macbeth Shakespeare uses comparison and contrast to bring out characteristics of his main character, Macbeth. Shakespeare uses comparisons with Duncan, Lady Macbeth, and Banquo to bring out aspects of Macbeth's character. After hearing of Macbeth's courageousness on the battlefield, Duncan, a good and honest king, bestows the title of Cawdor on Macbeth.
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.
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.
But for darkness its the opposite, all the bad events took place during the night, for example when Macbeth goes to kill king Duncan because of greed, he wasn't happy with the position he received, he wanted to be king so he can have more power. Another example of Darkness is when the witches come to tell him his prophecy (I, iii, 125). This is a type of tragic situation because if the witches hadn't appeared and told Macbeth that he would be king, he wouldn't have so much lust. In this scene, Macbeth describes the witch as an ugly old lady dressed in black. The color black represents the witch’s evil nature.
and her call upon the evil spirits suggests she is not at all what she
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.