Lady Macbeth Character Plan Flashcards
Lady Macbeth First Time
The first time we see lady Macbeth, she receives a letter from Macbeth, stating the witches’ prophecies. We see her read the letter and her soliloquy based on the letter. She immediately considers the kings death.
“ full o’ the milk of human kindness” - the metaphor suggests that she is already considering the fact that Macbeth may be too naturally good and kind to commit the ultimate crime of regicide. Her description of Macbeth contrasts her horrific personality as she is already evil, ambitious and obsessed with power. This contradicts the typical views towards woman at the time as they would be considered weak and it was not considered possible for a woman to be more powerful than her husband. Here, Lady Macbeth break the female stereotype of weakness. She is clearly an empowered, manipulative woman which is a complete contrast to views on females at this time. This is seen as the feminist ideal as she is strong, powerful and she does not rely on her husband to provide for her.
“Unsex me here” - Lady Macbeth makes her priorities clear. Typical feminine qualities such as guilt, compassion and remorse lack importance to Lady Macbeth as she wants them removed. This is because women were considered weak and would not be considered capable of murder. She becomes so obsessed with power that she doesn’t even care about being a woman any more as long as she can commit the murder and gain power.
Lady Macbeth - Second Time
Lady Macbeth waits for her husband to commit the crime. She still has some compassion left and is still in unity with her husband as they confide in one another
“ had he not resembled my father as he slept, I’d have done it” - despite being completely overcome by evil, she still has natural feelings of compassion. Perhaps this shows that she is completely evil and is fully capable of the Kings murder. The only thing preventing regicide is his similar appearance to her father.
“Did you not speak?” “When?” “Now” “as I descended?” - the fact that they complete the iambic pentameter for each other shows their unity and that they are confiding in such other. This conversation could show that, despite claiming to be completely evil, Lady Macbeth seems to be jumpy, on edge and nervous at this point in the play which is a change from the start where she seemed emotionless regarding the horrific crime.
Lady Macbeth - third time
She is forced to cover for and deal with Macbeth who is showing signs of hysteria as his guilt is externalised in the form of Banquo’s ghost at the banquet.
“Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus, | And hath been from his youth”
Lady Macbeth - fourth time
Sleepwalks and talks about the murder of Duncan
“Out damned spot”
“Who would have thought the old man to have so much blood”
Lady Macbeth - End
Macbeth hears that Lady Macbeth has died as Malcolm’s army attack’s Dunsinane.
Malcolm describes lady Macbeth after defeating Macbeth at the end of the play
“ she should have died hereafter”
“Fiend like queen”
