Representation Of Women In Lady Macbeth

Superior Essays
Females in today’s society are forced to grow up to be society’s version or ideal image of what a female consists of. As time has evolved gender roles have reversed and appearance vs. reality and characterization play a substantial role on many individuals in modern day society. One can identify the way in which Lady Macbeth is not society’s ideal image of a woman. Lady Macbeth puts a spin on what a female is expected to be and exemplifies the fact that females can do and be whatever they want to without being concerned about what others think of them. In the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, one can view the way in which Lady Macbeth is not the stereotypical preferred image of what a woman is. Through Lady Macbeth’s characterization …show more content…
In the play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth initiates the plot to murder King Duncan. For instance, in the play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth states, “ When Duncan is asleep, where to the rather shall his day’s hard journey soundly invite him, his two chamberlains will I with wine and wassail so convince that memory, the warder of the brain, shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason a lime back only. When in swinish sleep their drenched nature lies as in death, what cannot you and I perform upon his spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our guilt quell?” (I.vii.60-70). Through this quote it is able for one to view how Lady Macbeth actions and choices are different from other females. Many females chose to respect males due to the fact that they were considered to be superior. Therefore, an act of rebellion such as the plot of killing King Duncan immediately enables Lady Macbeth into a different woman of her kind. Together with this in mind, the readers can extract crucial information that through Lady Macbeth’s choices and action of pretending to grieve after King Duncan’s death enables the readers to believe she is a woman of her own kind. For example, in the play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth states, “What’s the business that such a hideous trumpet class to parley the sleepers of the house? Speak, speak”. (II.iii. 75-80) Through this quote, one can identify …show more content…
In the play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth displays various actions that demonstrate the strength she possess within her. For instance, Lady Macbeth states, “Who was it, that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, you do unbend your noble strength to think so brain sickly of things”. (II.i. 45-50) To clarify, one can identify the way in which Lady Macbeth possess strength through her own actions when she tells Macbeth not to become weak and offers him advice on how not to over think him murdering King Duncan. Through Lady Macbeth telling Macbeth not to over think about it in a cowardly way one can see how in order to give that kind of advice out you need to have it yourself. Therefore, demonstrating the strength that Lady Macbeth owns. Additionally, in the play Macbeth, the readers can also identify the way in which Lady Macbeth possesses strength. For example, in the short story, Lady Macbeth states, “My hardest are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white”. (II.ii.65-70) In other words, one can view the way in which Lady Macbeth that if she were to be ashamed her heart would be pale and weak. Through the statement of Lady Macbeth it is able to view Lady Macbeth’s strength. Lady Macbeth chooses not to let her conscience to eat her mind up otherwise she will end up like her husband who does not possess strength. Choosing not to give into the guilt really

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Gender Role In Macbeth

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages

    "Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak" - Sun Tzu. Appearance vs. reality plays a continuous role throughout the women in Macbeth. William Shakespeare 's, Macbeth, clearly depicts women speaking with confidence and diction. Some may also argue that they completely go against the stereotypical image of a women from the Jacobean era. Although the women of Macbeth are often viewed as cunning and vicious, Shakespeare uses them as a tool to manipulate the audience into sympathizing with characters such as Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff.…

    • 1201 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Role Of Lady Macbeth

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Act three, Macbeth becomes King of Scotland and his devious side is now seen. He hires men to kill his friend Banquo, and he is now the monster his wife has created. Although Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel the same about this whole situation of him protecting his throne, he has now detached himself from his reliance on Lady Macbeth and pursues his own coarse (Macbeth-The Decline). Now that Macbeth is making his own decisions and has taken leadership, Lady Macbeth starts losing her sanity. In Act five, she sleepwalks and reveals all the murders she has committed, and she is trying to wash imaginary blood off her hands.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    She is hungry for power and often seeks the help of demons to fill her with darkness. After she reads the letter from Macbeth she says; "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!" (1.5.43-46). She wants spirits to help me not feel remorse so she will be able to further assist her husband in achieving royalty. The only time that her thoughts start to betray her are towards the end of the play when guilt overtakes her.…

    • 1373 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Lady Macbeth believes women can be equally or even more stronger than men. According to Lady Macbeth, she believes her husband is weak. After she reads the letter, she begins to calculate a plan to bring her status to a new level. However, once she has the plan figured out, the lack of respect she has for her husband is revealed. According to Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth says, “.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    However, when women try to break out of their gender stereotypes, they end up failing completely. In Act 1 Scene 7, Lady Macbeth gives a powerful speech on wanting to rid herself of her womanly parts to become more strong and cruel. She uses phrases such as “unsex me here” (1.5.l 40) and “fill me… [with] direst cruelty” and “make thick my blood” (1.5.ll 41-42), showing that she not only wants to stop being a woman physically, but also wants to become more masculine at heart. She even goes to the extremes of saying that she wants her breastmilk to be turned to “gall” (1.5.ll 46-47). At this point, it is made clear that Lady Macbeth is determined to break out of her stereotype as a weak woman.…

    • 1562 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Shakespeare explained this through the relationships between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and the words of witches. Because of the characters pf Lady Macbeth, Macbeth encouraged by it and changed mind. Also, Macbeth’s mind was controlled by the words of witches. It meant that human mind was influenced by the other people’s opinion. This combined with act 1 scene 1 and indicated that weakness of mind is…

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    She suggests that Macbeth sounds more like a woman imparting a scary dream to her friends at the fireside, rather than like a brave man. By emasculating Macbeth, she bends her proud husband to her will, as Macbeth could not endure being called womanly by his wife. Thus, Shakespeare gives Lady Macbeth the stereotypical female trait of being manipulative, while concurrently defying female stereotypes of the time, by giving her power, particularly over…

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Lady Macbeth Quote Quotes

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages

    13) "I have given suck, and know/How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:/ I would, while it was smiling in my face,/ Have plucked...had I so sworn as you Have done to this." (I,vii,62-67) This quote was spoken by Lady Macbeth to Macbeth when speaking about their plans to murder King Duncan. This quote really helps characterize Lady Macbeth as a ruthless character. Not only is she completely fine with having another human being murdered, she is also starting to get agitated at the fact that Macbeth seems to be getting cold feet about the plan. This quote also shows how Lady Macbeth also breaks the mold of the stereotypical loving and dainty wife.…

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This paints a very sharp image of Lady Macbeth begging to be more like a man. During the play Lady Macbeth says “Have plucked my nipple form his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this”(Shakespeare) Kesur agrees with this by saying “Here Lady Macbeth is saying that if she had taken up a task such as this one, she would have murdered her own baby rather than break a promise such as this one.”(5563). Not only does this show that Lady Macbeth is the one in charge it also paints the image of how cruel and evil Lady Macbeth can really be, that she is willing to kill her own child just so she can be queen. In the movie, when Duncan gets put into the deep fryer can definitely paint the image again of how cruel and evil not only Lady Macbeth is but at this point so it Macbeth. The imagery of the hippies themselves relates the to play since the hippies are men/women and the witches are women with beards.…

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Right from the start, Lady Macbeth displays a lack of humanity due to her burning passion to become queen. Through dramatic irony, readers are able to see through her amicability towards King Duncan, characterized by letting him into her own home with open arms, and ultimately, not displaying her true intentions. This passion only becomes stronger and stronger over time as she persuades Macbeth to commit murder, even going as far as questioning his “lack of courage” (Jamieson). Once there is an opportunity for Lady Macbeth to take on a role of power, she jumps at the opportunity, even going as far as convincing her husband to help her take part in gaining power (Jamieson). Based off of the actions and decisions that she made throughout the…

    • 1299 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays