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Lady Macbeth Character Analysis
Lady Macbeth Character Analysis
Tony Leche
Mr. DiNota
English 10, E Block
November 9, 2015
Leche 2
Macbeths harshness towards her own husband. While plotting Duncans murder, Lady Macbeth
begins to question Macbeths manhood: Wouldst thou have that/ Which thou esteemst the
ornament of life/ And live like a coward in thine own esteem (1.7.45-47). Despite Lady
Macbeths loyalty for her husband, she is able to effectively manipulate her husband, overriding
all his doubts. In the passage, Lady Macbeth questions Macbeths manhood by naming him a
coward. By doing this, Macbeth feels the need to murder Duncan so that he can prove himself
to his wife. Shakespeares depiction of cruelty to Macbeth helps convey Lady Macbeths own
harsh and manipulative manner.
Despite Lady Macbeths heinous nature, Shakespeare uses the feeling of guilt to help
depict her sense of humanity. In Act 5, Lady Macbeth begins a slow slide into madness: What
will these hands neer be clean? (5.1.45). Near the end of the play, Lady Macbeth begins to
sleepwalk through the castle, desperately trying to wash away an imaginary blood stain. The
blood represents the sins and guilt of her actions and she wishes for her hands, or conscience, to
be cleaned. Once the guilt begins to form, she is unable to cope with it and becomes mad. This
guilt conveys the presence of her conscience, showing that she isnt inhumane and feels bad for
her actions. This guilt eventually leads to her own death, helping depict the extent of her guilt.
Shakespeares use of repentance conveys Lady Macbeths presence of humanity.
All in all, despite all her flaws, Lady Macbeth is displayed as a woman with a sense of
humanity. Shakespeare does this by displaying the lack of perfection in Lady Macbeth, followed
by the guilt of her action. Shakespeares depiction of Lady Macbeth helps convey that there can
be goodness in a heinous nature.