In Macbeth play writer William Shakespeare illustrates three main character traits of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife. Shakespeare aims to present Lady Macbeth as someone who oversteps her boundaries, and tries to change situations out of her control. Shakespeare takes Lady Macbeth much farther than her character traits, and also has her represent the theme of disruption of nature. While Lady Macbeth has many more than three character traits, Shakespeare puts a special emphasis on three special traits. The three personality traits that William Shakespeare has Lady Macbeth express in the play Macbeth are ambition, cunningness, and persuasive.
The first character trait that William Shakespeare expresses in Lady Macbeth is her ambition. Shakespeare …show more content…
Towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth’s ambition and cunningness leaves her, as she is left an empty shell of herself filled with insanity. Her constant guilt and stress of the killing of Duncan finally catch up to her towards the end. Lady Macbeth’s extreme insanity is shown in this quote: “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One:/ two: why, then ‘tis time to do ‘t. hell is murky./ Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need/ we fear who knows it, when none can call our/ pow’r to accompt? Yet who would have thought/ the old man to have had so much blood in him.”(5.1.38-43). In this quote, Lady Macbeth is ranting about the blood on her hands, but no one else can see it. She is referring to Duncan’s blood staying on her hands, and no matter how much she washes them it will not come off. The next quote reveals that the Doctor knows what has happened to Lady Macbeth, but has no way of fixing it. This is shown in this quote: “This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I/ have known those which have walked in their sleep/ who have died holily in their beds.”(5.1.62-64). The Doctor has realized that Lady Macbeth has gone insane and states that there is nothing he can do, but he says he has seen people who have gone insane and done nothing wrong. Lady Macbeth follows up his response by stating this: “Wash your hands; put on your night-/ gown; look not so pale! I tell you yet again, Banquo’s/ …show more content…
Shakespeare utilized Lady Macbeth more than just a colorful character though. William succeeded in having a whole theme flow through her. Lady Macbeth is a constant example of the disruption of nature. Lady Macbeth’s first disruption happens during Duncan’s murder. It is shown in this quote: “I heard the owl scream and the crickets/ cry./ Did not you speak?”(2.2.14-16). The murder disrupts the natural order of nature, because of the screaming of owls and the crying of crickets. These are actions that should not happen, and ones that defy the natural behavior of both the animals. The next example happens later in the act, but still has to do with the murder of Duncan. This anomaly is shown in this quote: “ ‘Tis unnatural,/ Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last/ A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,/ Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.”(2.4.10-13). This quote illustrates and owl that normally hunts mouses, was able to kill a falcon. This disruption in nature defies the food chain, and is compared to the killing of Duncan as if they are similar. The final example of Lady Macbeth’s disruption of nature happens within the same scene. The upset order of nature is shown in this final quote: “ ‘Tis said the eat each other.”(2.4.17). This quote expresses Duncan’s horses turning on each other and
The first character trait that William Shakespeare expresses in Lady Macbeth is her ambition. Shakespeare …show more content…
Towards the end of the play Lady Macbeth’s ambition and cunningness leaves her, as she is left an empty shell of herself filled with insanity. Her constant guilt and stress of the killing of Duncan finally catch up to her towards the end. Lady Macbeth’s extreme insanity is shown in this quote: “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One:/ two: why, then ‘tis time to do ‘t. hell is murky./ Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need/ we fear who knows it, when none can call our/ pow’r to accompt? Yet who would have thought/ the old man to have had so much blood in him.”(5.1.38-43). In this quote, Lady Macbeth is ranting about the blood on her hands, but no one else can see it. She is referring to Duncan’s blood staying on her hands, and no matter how much she washes them it will not come off. The next quote reveals that the Doctor knows what has happened to Lady Macbeth, but has no way of fixing it. This is shown in this quote: “This disease is beyond my practice. Yet I/ have known those which have walked in their sleep/ who have died holily in their beds.”(5.1.62-64). The Doctor has realized that Lady Macbeth has gone insane and states that there is nothing he can do, but he says he has seen people who have gone insane and done nothing wrong. Lady Macbeth follows up his response by stating this: “Wash your hands; put on your night-/ gown; look not so pale! I tell you yet again, Banquo’s/ …show more content…
Shakespeare utilized Lady Macbeth more than just a colorful character though. William succeeded in having a whole theme flow through her. Lady Macbeth is a constant example of the disruption of nature. Lady Macbeth’s first disruption happens during Duncan’s murder. It is shown in this quote: “I heard the owl scream and the crickets/ cry./ Did not you speak?”(2.2.14-16). The murder disrupts the natural order of nature, because of the screaming of owls and the crying of crickets. These are actions that should not happen, and ones that defy the natural behavior of both the animals. The next example happens later in the act, but still has to do with the murder of Duncan. This anomaly is shown in this quote: “ ‘Tis unnatural,/ Even like the deed that’s done. On Tuesday last/ A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place,/ Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed.”(2.4.10-13). This quote illustrates and owl that normally hunts mouses, was able to kill a falcon. This disruption in nature defies the food chain, and is compared to the killing of Duncan as if they are similar. The final example of Lady Macbeth’s disruption of nature happens within the same scene. The upset order of nature is shown in this final quote: “ ‘Tis said the eat each other.”(2.4.17). This quote expresses Duncan’s horses turning on each other and