The Downfall of Lady Macbeth

The Downfall of Lady Macbeth

Macbeth is a play full of magic, mystery, and murder. The variety of

plots, as well as the interesting characters, force the reader to pay full

attention at all times. Unfortunately, one of these characters is a victim of

her own imagination. Although Lady Macbeth adds much positive flavour to the

play, her character is revealed through her aggressive attitude with her husband,

her inhumane disregard for life, and her guilty conscience.

Lady Macbeth is very assertive when dealing with her husband's

hesitations about murdering Duncan:

"O never shall sun that morrow see!

Your face... is as a book where men

May read strange matters. To beguile the time,

Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,

Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower

But be the serpent under't."

This urging causes Macbeth to possess Œblack and deep desires', which lead him

to murder the king. She takes it upon herself to pressure him and therefore,

her bold character is revealed. Macbeth's intentions would have been less

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

husband, is to blame for the death of King Duncan, due to her relentless pursuit

of power and authority.

Lady Macbeth is a heartless fiend with an savage disregard for life.

This is evident in the manner in which she downplays the murder of Duncan to her

husband:

"A little water clears us of this deed;

How easy is it, then! Your constancy

Hath left you unattended...

Get on your night-gown, lest occasion call us,

And show us to be watchers. Be not lost

So poorly in your thoughts."

She tries to make Macbeth believe that committing the murder was not a vicious

deed and that washing their hands will wash away all the guilt. Macbeth

exclaims that "all Neptune's ocean" will not wash the blood from his hands.

Lady Macbeth appears at this point to be a ruthless killer working on behalf of

the prince of darkness, which solidifies her character and gives the audience

new insights to her psychological state.

The audience is lead to believe that Lady Macbeth will never feel any

guilt concerning the murder, but her guilty conscience is displayed near the end

of the play. She begins to sleepwalk and relive the murder in her mind:

"Out, damned spot! out, I say! One; two; why, then

Œtis time to do't. Hell is murky! Fie, my lord--fie!

a soldier, and afeard?