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Phoena Woods-Carr

Ms. Lamer

END2D

23 January 2023

The Descent of Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is a powerful and complex character in Shakespeare's play Macbeth. She

is the driving force behind her husband's ambition to become king and is willing to do whatever

it takes to make it happen.

At the beginning of the play, Lady macbeth is presented as a strong, ambitious woman

who is not content with her current social status. She is determined to see her husband rise to the

throne and is willing to use her intelligence and manipulation skills to make it happen. She is the

one who urges Macbeth to kill King Duncan and take his place as king, and she is the one who

comes up with the plan to frame the guards for the murder, as she believes Macbeth is too

cowardly to actually take action. ‘Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be/What thou art

promised.Yet do I fear thy nature;/It is to full o’ th’ milk of human kindness/ To catch the nearest

way.’ (1.5.15-18)

Despite her initial determination and ruthless ambition, Lady Macbeth's character

undergoes a significant change throughout the play. As the guilt and consequences of their

actions begin to take a toll on her, she becomes increasingly paranoid and unstable. She starts to
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experience hallucinations and sleepwalking, and her once powerful and assertive demeanor

becomes increasingly fragile and desperate.

Lady Macbeth's descent into madness can be seen as a result of the guilt and remorse she

feels for her actions. She realizes the terrible things she has done in herambition and is consumed

by the guilt and shame of her actions. Her sleepwalking scenes reveal her inner turmoil, as she is

haunted by the blood of the people she has killed, directly and indirectly, and the guilt of her

actions. In addition to her guilt and remorse, Lady Macbeth's descent can also be seen as a result

of the societal expectations placed on women during this time period. As a woman, she is not

supposed to have ambition or desire for power, and her actions go against societal norms. This

may also contribute to her guilt and her descent into madness.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth is a complex and powerful character, just as most characters

are in Shakepeare’s writing. She is initially presented as a strong and ambitious woman who is

willing to do whatever it takes to see her husband rise to the throne. However, as the play

progresses, her character undergoes a significant change as she is consumed by guilt and remorse

for her actions. Her descent into madness serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of

unchecked ambition and the destructive nature of power.

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Works Cited

Shakespear, William. Macbeth