Lady Macbeth is one of the most evil characters that Shakespeare ever created. She was extremely ambitious, and she would not let anything get in the way of her goals. Her own desires came before everything, including her husband, her country, and her kinsmen. Unfortunately, she pushed herself to the breaking point and snapped, because she could no longer contain her guilt. Her hunger for power was her downfall. Lady Macbeth exhibited a truly evil and self-serving personality full of negative traits. The only time that she showed her human side was when she couldn’t bring herself to kill Duncan, because he resembled her father. Other than this one show of conscience, Lady Macbeth showed no sensitivity or sympathy until her guilt could
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(I.5.16-19)
Although, she convinced Macbeth to do the deed, she had to finish off the plan herself. “Give me the daggers: / the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood / that fears a painted devil” (II.2.52-54). Macbeth admired Lady Macbeth’s unwavering ambition. He declared to her, “Bring forth men-children only; / for thy undaunted mettle should compose / nothing but males” (I.7.72-74). Macbeth knew that his wife’s ambition was rare for a woman, and he wanted his male heirs to inherit the same focused ambition. Throughout the play, ambition was Lady Macbeth’s driving force.
Lady Macbeth had to be utterly ruthless in order to accomplish her goals. She acted as the murder did not affect her, and she criticized Macbeth who showed remorse. At the outset, Lady Macbeth worried that her own ruthlessness would not be sufficient to commit murder, so she petitioned evil spirits to help her. “Come, you spirits / that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / and fill me from the crown to the toe-top full / of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood” (I.5.41-44). She was afraid that he conscience might impede her resolve, and in fact, the ruthlessness she displayed was later overpowered by guilt. While Macbeth was profoundly shaken directly after he committed murder, Lady Macbeth remained cruel and without conscience. She admonished her husband for his …show more content…
“We fail? / But screw your courage to the sticking place, / and we’ll not fail” (I.7.59-61). Macbeth could not refuse to do the deed after she had insulted his honor. It would seem as if he were accepting the fact that he was a coward. After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth’s own ambition took over. However, without Lady Macbeth’s urging, he would never have killed Duncan in the first place. All the nobles blamed Macbeth for the murder despite the fact that Lady Macbeth was the true mastermind behind Duncan’s murder. She was the real traitor to Scotland. Lady Macbeth convinced Macbeth to commit the terrible deed through
(I.5.16-19)
Although, she convinced Macbeth to do the deed, she had to finish off the plan herself. “Give me the daggers: / the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood / that fears a painted devil” (II.2.52-54). Macbeth admired Lady Macbeth’s unwavering ambition. He declared to her, “Bring forth men-children only; / for thy undaunted mettle should compose / nothing but males” (I.7.72-74). Macbeth knew that his wife’s ambition was rare for a woman, and he wanted his male heirs to inherit the same focused ambition. Throughout the play, ambition was Lady Macbeth’s driving force.
Lady Macbeth had to be utterly ruthless in order to accomplish her goals. She acted as the murder did not affect her, and she criticized Macbeth who showed remorse. At the outset, Lady Macbeth worried that her own ruthlessness would not be sufficient to commit murder, so she petitioned evil spirits to help her. “Come, you spirits / that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / and fill me from the crown to the toe-top full / of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood” (I.5.41-44). She was afraid that he conscience might impede her resolve, and in fact, the ruthlessness she displayed was later overpowered by guilt. While Macbeth was profoundly shaken directly after he committed murder, Lady Macbeth remained cruel and without conscience. She admonished her husband for his …show more content…
“We fail? / But screw your courage to the sticking place, / and we’ll not fail” (I.7.59-61). Macbeth could not refuse to do the deed after she had insulted his honor. It would seem as if he were accepting the fact that he was a coward. After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth’s own ambition took over. However, without Lady Macbeth’s urging, he would never have killed Duncan in the first place. All the nobles blamed Macbeth for the murder despite the fact that Lady Macbeth was the true mastermind behind Duncan’s murder. She was the real traitor to Scotland. Lady Macbeth convinced Macbeth to commit the terrible deed through