Macbeth - LADY MACBETH Flashcards
What are some context points about women in Jacobean era
Expired to be obedient and subservient to their husbands serving as ‘hostess and helpmate ‘
Could not attend school or uni
Belonged to fathers and husbands when they married
Could not purchase property
Could not vote
Were not allowed on stage
Act 2 scene 3 - Macduff doesn’t want to inform lady Macbeth about murder of king Duncan - “repetition in a women’s ear, would murder as it fell”
To tell this news to a women would kill her this presents women as weak - in particular weaker than men
Lady Macbeth power - during Macbeth’s speech (A1S7)after he talked himself out killing king Duncan but then lady Macbeth enters
Structural technique by Shakespeare as it gives the audience a visual cue as she walks in
Macbeth states “we will proceed no further in this business” and lady Macbeth destroys his resolve in less than 50 lines of dialogue
What was significant about lady Macbeth destroying Macbeth’s resolve
Macbeth is a brave fearless warrior but has been verbally manipulated and coerced by his wife who is known to be less powerful due to Jacobean era stereotyping women to be less powerful therefore she contrasts this stereotype
Quote to show lady Macbeth’s powerful manipulation
“From this time such i account my love”
Here she is using his lover for her against him stating that he obviously doesn’t love her if he won’t do this
How does Lady Macbeth challenge Macbeth’s manhood
“When you durst do it, then you were a man”
Very effective attack on husband as Macbeth’s entire reputation is based and founded upon his brave personality and courage and lady Macbeth is essentially calling him the Shakespearean equivalent of a ‘chicken’ she calls him a “Coward” , “poor cat”
LM is portrayed as powerful and dominant as she persuades her reluctant husband to kill the king
How is lady Macbeth’s power presented in the banquet scene in act 3 scene 4
As Macbeth falls apart infront of his guests it’s lady Macbeth who takes control by directing the banquet guests “sit” “speak not” “go at once” her power is even more noticeable when juxtaposed with the weakness of her husband
How can lady Macbeth be presented as not powerful and all. Far from being a proto-feminist, Shakespeare is depicting lm as conforming to feminine stereotypes of the era
A1S5 - if lady Macbeth was really that powerfully the audience may wonder why she is in need for the support of the supernatural forces of darkness in order to carry out her plan “spirits that tend on moral thoughts” and why does she need to reject her feminists in order to carry out the plans “unsex me here” “take my milk for gall”. Maybe she doesn’t trust her feminine qualities
Therefore we may see her as a subservient wife to her husband
Therefore we may see her as a subservient wife to her husband context point
Fulfilling what Joan Larsen Klein describes in ‘ The Woman’s Part: Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare’ as ‘her wifely roles of hostess and helpmate”
How is lady Macbeth presented as a ‘helpmate’ to her husband
She unlocks Duncan’s door - “the doors are open” A2S2
She prepares the daggers - “ I laid the daggers ready “ A2S2
