lady macbeth knowledge

Question 1

how does guilt affect lady macbeth

Answer 1

Guilt
-after the original murders she hides her guilt is far more immoral and uncaring than Macbeth – not tormented by her conscience like Macbeth
-see glints of her guilt with her not being able to kill Duncan DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS – however she keeps her guilt under control
- M overcomes his final guilt and turns into a morally evil character with no conscience – direct contrast to LM who is overcome with guilt and dies MENTAL HEALTH – bottling up her guilt leads her over the edge and she even feels extra guilt for Macbeth’s murders e.g. Macduff’s family
-symbolised by blood
-we could see her death as retribution for her encouraging Duncan’s death – she plants the idea in his head and encourages him so in turn she dies because of the guilt from it

Question 2

how does ambition and evil affect lady macbeth and macbeth

Answer 2

• Macbeth gives into temptation as a result of Lady M and the Witches. Through witches’ use of equivocations and Lady M drives him as a result of her own personable ambition.
  -however even straight after the witches talk of him being king it is Macbeth who suggests murder reflecting how it is his ambition that drives his evil not the witches influence – reflecting the message that even if there are fears of the supernatural man’s ambition and violence is the true evil
• she is seen as an immoral character who wishes to be full of evil – she can be seen as an unnatural supernatural woman – who influences Macbeth into becoming eviller and more immoral
• however, this evil and ambition can be seen to spark her guilt and her death could be seen as a consequence of this

Question 3

how does power affect macbeth and lady macbeth

Answer 3

Power
-she uses Macbeths insecurity in his masculinity against him to tempt him into ‘acting like a man’ and becoming more violent and evil
-Macbeth is additionally constantly manipulated and emasculated by Lady M. Any challenge of his manliness is enough to convince Macbeth of any crime. – she has power over him and is able to persuade him into things he’s not entirely sure of
-Macbeth reclaims control over lady Macbeth as his violence grows which to the audience could be seen as him taking back control of the relationship and his masculinity
ROLE OF WOMEN

Question 4

how does love affect macbeth and lady macbeth

Answer 4

Love
-she could be seen as a loving wife – the things she wants most in the play whilst they benefit her, they mainly are improving Macbeth and his life rather than hers – making him king and keeping him in that position of power
- she does emasculate and belittle him however she can also show care and love towards him – she is worried when he has hallucinations – she is always there to help him in his darkest moments, but he is no where to be seen when she needs help
- their relationship seems to deteriorate as the play goes on – she is seen less with him, and he seems unaffected by her death

Question 5

how does lady macbeth affect macbeth

Answer 5

IMPORTANCE – accomplice to Macbeth – encourages him down a violent path and fosters his evil – this then causes her own downfall.