The Role of Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 and Act 5, Scene 1

The Role of Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 and Act 5, Scene 1

William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', was the last of the four tragedies

written by Shakespeare. It is thought that the play was written at a

time somewhere between 1603 - 1611.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.

Act I scene V is set at Macbeth's castle in Inverness where Lady

Macbeth reads a letter received from her husband concerning his

meeting with the witches. She is instantly aware of the importance of

the predictions made by the sisters, and as the King will be paying a

royal visit soon, this will give them the opportunity to hasten the

prophecy. She is clearly the driving force of the marriage and she

describes her husband as weak, having "the milk of human kindness".

When Macbeth returns, she makes her plans clear to him.

Lady Macbeth is the strongest female character in all of Shakespeare's

works.

In order to emphasize this, Shakespeare introduces this character to

the audience by having her on the stage alone. There is no doubt in

this person's mind what is required. She is quite prepared to be

tempted by the devil, and she will drive her husband to commit evil.

She is like the fourth sister, being a tool of fate. She knows that

she has to push her husband in order for him to achieve gr...

... middle of paper ...

...her, and with

violent language declares that she would dash out the brains of her

own baby, had she promised to as Macbeth had promised to kill Duncan.

She then assures Macbeth that failure is impossible, at which point

Macbeth is convinced once again to kill the king. Macbeth had resolved

not to kill the king after much thinking about it, but Lady Macbeth

persuaded him to do it.

Not only did Lady Macbeth convince her husband to murder King Duncan,

but she also made the arrangements to make it possible. At the

beginning of Act II, scene II, Lady Macbeth informs us that the guards

are thoroughly intoxicated. She then continues to say; "I laid their

daggers ready; He could not miss them.. Lady Macbeth made all the

arrangements necessary for the murder of King Duncan, so that all

Macbeth had to do was perform the act.