Lady Macbeth Character Analysis, William Shakespeare

Essay by kevda1stJunior High, 9th gradeA-, October 2008

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Lady Macbeth is married to Macbeth the main character in this play, making her one of the key characters in this play. Lady Macbeth is a woman who lusts for power, authority and control through her husband. She persuades Macbeth into killing Duncan so that he can become king after the incident. She characterizes one of the ongoing thematic elements of guilt throughout the play and this finally leads to her death in the end. The quote "a little water clears us of this deed" is a simple statement made by Lady Macbeth which becomes ironic as the play progresses because the metaphorical "clear water" of truth which she speaks of is never used by either her or Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth can be described as a dark and manipulative character as she urges her husband the naïve Macbeth into killing Duncan by questioning his honor and strength as a man.

She manipulates him with such great effect that it causes him to override all his objections, when he still hesitates to kill Duncan she repeatedly questions his manhood until he gets to the point where he feels he needs to kill in order to prove himself. "Bring forth men-children only! For thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males" as said by Macbeth shortly before he commits the murder. Gender roles in this play are very important; Masculinity is described as being aggression and violence. In "Macbeth" wherever manhood is discussed violence soon follows.

As a character Lady Macbeth is a woman who goes against femininity and our expectations. She challenges the natural order of things. "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. Make thick my blood; stop up the passage to remorse."...