The public’s view of characters with social relevance evolves over time as society modernizes. William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth has had an impact on both culture and literature since the time it was written. However, the ways that people interpret the characters, particularly Lady Macbeth, has changed greatly since then. Beginning in the seventeenth century, her character was seen as the sole cause of all evil in Macbeth and in the play. Yet as powerful and even evil women became prominent figures, the public began to feel sympathetic towards this character while still acknowledging her wrongdoings. Historically, Lady Macbeth of William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth has been viewed as the single source of all evil in the
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Powerful women were more prevalent, and people were beginning to see female characters as more complex. Actresses in the past, like Sarah Siddons, emphasized the most inhuman attributes of Lady Macbeth in order to have their depiction fit with the popular view of the character. As time progressed, actresses were more open to focusing on the scenes in which Lady Macbeth is weaker and easily sympathized with. Julia Marlowe, who played Lady Macbeth in a 1911 production of Macbeth, accentuated Lady Macbeth’s vulnerability in the sleepwalking scene. “Miss Marlowe keeps the scene always within the compass of her art to the end that it is moving and pathetic in its tenseness and utterance.” (Sothern and Marlowe In Revival of "Macbeth" 12). She was able to represent multiple sides of the character, without having to adhere to any standards. A photo of Marlowe taken by Arnold Genthe shows the instability and frailty in her interpretation of the character. She is dressed in a nightgown, showing that the photo was taken during the sleepwalking scene, and is looking away from the camera in anguish, with her hand on her chest to show her character’s worry and guilt (Genthe). Marlowe had the freedom to show the complexity of Lady Macbeth due to the changing view of both the character and …show more content…
“Lady Macbeth continues to figure our society’s conflicted admiration for and fear of women’s rights, power, and professional success. She frightens us, as she frightened our forebears, because of her perceived ability to empower the feminine while disempowering the masculine” (Thomas 3). She is a female character who does not act like a traditional woman, and even rejects her own effeminate qualities. An unfeminine character may not seem out of the ordinary today, but was unthinkable in the past. Women were not usually in positions of power, and the thought of a woman who had the power to convince her husband to kill was terrifying. Yet as assertive and powerful women became more common, many began to recognize that Macbeth himself was the first character to consider killing Duncan and to believe that Lady Macbeth only sought the throne because she knew it was her husband’s wish. People began to question whether Lady Macbeth is the force that drives a reluctant and ambitious Macbeth into regicide, or if her bullying is the final provocation for a man who is already contemplating murder (Klett 2). Some suggest that she convinces her husband to murder only because she is more intelligent than Macbeth and that she fears he will not go to extreme lengths to get what he wants. She cares deeply for her husband, and wants him to achieve all
Powerful women were more prevalent, and people were beginning to see female characters as more complex. Actresses in the past, like Sarah Siddons, emphasized the most inhuman attributes of Lady Macbeth in order to have their depiction fit with the popular view of the character. As time progressed, actresses were more open to focusing on the scenes in which Lady Macbeth is weaker and easily sympathized with. Julia Marlowe, who played Lady Macbeth in a 1911 production of Macbeth, accentuated Lady Macbeth’s vulnerability in the sleepwalking scene. “Miss Marlowe keeps the scene always within the compass of her art to the end that it is moving and pathetic in its tenseness and utterance.” (Sothern and Marlowe In Revival of "Macbeth" 12). She was able to represent multiple sides of the character, without having to adhere to any standards. A photo of Marlowe taken by Arnold Genthe shows the instability and frailty in her interpretation of the character. She is dressed in a nightgown, showing that the photo was taken during the sleepwalking scene, and is looking away from the camera in anguish, with her hand on her chest to show her character’s worry and guilt (Genthe). Marlowe had the freedom to show the complexity of Lady Macbeth due to the changing view of both the character and …show more content…
“Lady Macbeth continues to figure our society’s conflicted admiration for and fear of women’s rights, power, and professional success. She frightens us, as she frightened our forebears, because of her perceived ability to empower the feminine while disempowering the masculine” (Thomas 3). She is a female character who does not act like a traditional woman, and even rejects her own effeminate qualities. An unfeminine character may not seem out of the ordinary today, but was unthinkable in the past. Women were not usually in positions of power, and the thought of a woman who had the power to convince her husband to kill was terrifying. Yet as assertive and powerful women became more common, many began to recognize that Macbeth himself was the first character to consider killing Duncan and to believe that Lady Macbeth only sought the throne because she knew it was her husband’s wish. People began to question whether Lady Macbeth is the force that drives a reluctant and ambitious Macbeth into regicide, or if her bullying is the final provocation for a man who is already contemplating murder (Klett 2). Some suggest that she convinces her husband to murder only because she is more intelligent than Macbeth and that she fears he will not go to extreme lengths to get what he wants. She cares deeply for her husband, and wants him to achieve all