William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth tells the fictionalized story of Macbeth’s rise to the throne. His ambition is spurred by Lady Macbeth who feels that Macbeth will not be strong enough to undertake the necessary requirements, in their minds, to gain the titles of King and Queen. The characterizations of both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth undergo complete reversals, and the characters who readers are introduced to at the beginning of the drama barely resemble the people whom they were. The beginning of Macbeth introduces Macbeth as submissive and hesitant, yet extremely dedicated. Macbeth may be Thane of Glamis which holds a position of power, but he is very submissive in his relationship with Lady Macbeth. He—while completely responsible
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(1.7.1-2, 13-16)
Macbeth is aware that he is within Duncan’s circle of trusted allies and Macbeth’s dedication is what makes him wary of his actions. Macbeth reaches the point where he tells her that he “will proceed no further” (1.7.34). Similarly however, his dedication to Lady Macbeth and his own ambition is what leads him to the atrocious crime and disregard his own alliance to Duncan. Unlike Macbeth in opening of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is ambitious, controlling, and persistent. In her introductory soliloquy, Lady Macbeth reveals her covetous nature; her desire to become queens is so strong that she disregards her motherly nature. She calls upon spirits to “unsex” (1.5.48) her and “take [her] milk for gall” (1.5.55). Lady Macbeth also reveals her manipulation in this soliloquy. She feels that Macbeth is “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” (1.5.17) and that though he has ambition he will not be able to act upon it unless prodded. Throughout the act, Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s virility as a means to stimulate Macbeth’s ambition. Lady Macbeth’s pushing of Macbeth indicates her persistence. When Macbeth begins to question the plan, Lady Macbeth attacks his courage and masculinity until he relents and agrees to the assassination …show more content…
She is guilt-ridden, paranoid, and tortured from the crimes that she and Macbeth committed in order to obtain the throne. Lady Macbeth’s final appearance in the tragedy is the sleepwalking scene. Her conscience has become too much for her to bare and has driven to the brink of insanity. She is unable to rid herself of the figurative blood that stains her hands, so her subconscious is making the blood a reality for her. She continuously attempts to wash the blood off her hands and insists that “the smell of the blood” (5.1.53) will not dissipate. The Doctor can tell that the malady that tortures Lady Macbeth is one of the soul and fears for her safety; the Doctor has anything that she could harm herself removed to protect her temporarily. This evidently fails as it is revealed to Macbeth that she commits suicide when she is unable to bare the grief anymore. The role reversal of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is evident throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Macbeth is introduced as a submissive character, while Lady Macbeth is the domineering one who spurs their actions. By the finale, Macbeth has becoming extremely controlling, and likewise Lady Macbeth is anguished from their actions. The characters at this point resemble each other more than themselves. The situation that they had thrown themselves into with the murder of Duncan affected the characters to the point where they
(1.7.1-2, 13-16)
Macbeth is aware that he is within Duncan’s circle of trusted allies and Macbeth’s dedication is what makes him wary of his actions. Macbeth reaches the point where he tells her that he “will proceed no further” (1.7.34). Similarly however, his dedication to Lady Macbeth and his own ambition is what leads him to the atrocious crime and disregard his own alliance to Duncan. Unlike Macbeth in opening of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is ambitious, controlling, and persistent. In her introductory soliloquy, Lady Macbeth reveals her covetous nature; her desire to become queens is so strong that she disregards her motherly nature. She calls upon spirits to “unsex” (1.5.48) her and “take [her] milk for gall” (1.5.55). Lady Macbeth also reveals her manipulation in this soliloquy. She feels that Macbeth is “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” (1.5.17) and that though he has ambition he will not be able to act upon it unless prodded. Throughout the act, Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s virility as a means to stimulate Macbeth’s ambition. Lady Macbeth’s pushing of Macbeth indicates her persistence. When Macbeth begins to question the plan, Lady Macbeth attacks his courage and masculinity until he relents and agrees to the assassination …show more content…
She is guilt-ridden, paranoid, and tortured from the crimes that she and Macbeth committed in order to obtain the throne. Lady Macbeth’s final appearance in the tragedy is the sleepwalking scene. Her conscience has become too much for her to bare and has driven to the brink of insanity. She is unable to rid herself of the figurative blood that stains her hands, so her subconscious is making the blood a reality for her. She continuously attempts to wash the blood off her hands and insists that “the smell of the blood” (5.1.53) will not dissipate. The Doctor can tell that the malady that tortures Lady Macbeth is one of the soul and fears for her safety; the Doctor has anything that she could harm herself removed to protect her temporarily. This evidently fails as it is revealed to Macbeth that she commits suicide when she is unable to bare the grief anymore. The role reversal of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is evident throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Macbeth is introduced as a submissive character, while Lady Macbeth is the domineering one who spurs their actions. By the finale, Macbeth has becoming extremely controlling, and likewise Lady Macbeth is anguished from their actions. The characters at this point resemble each other more than themselves. The situation that they had thrown themselves into with the murder of Duncan affected the characters to the point where they