character analysis of Lady Macbeth
- Created by: loupardoe
- Created on: 28-10-16 10:36
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- Lady Macbeth
- conscience-stricken
- She cannot bear to think of what she has done and eventually dies alone and unmourned even by her husband.
- Lady Macbeth seems to go from being someone with no conscience at all to someone who is overwhelmed by feelings of guilt.
- act 5 scene 1- lines 31-35
- In particular, she recalls the night of Duncan's murder and the part she played in persuading her husband to act.
- She is also aware that she will be going to hell for her sins.
- As the guilt-stricken Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, she remembers all the evil things she and her husband have done and tries to wash imaginary blood from her hands (Out, damned spot: out, I say!).
- ambitious
- She can only be Queen if he becomes King so when he hesitates she displays enough ambition for both of them.
- Lady Macbeth is, perhaps, even more determined than her husband.
- Once she has worked out a plan, nothing will turn her from that course until her ambition is fulfilled.
- act 1 scene 5- lines 14-19
- However, she recognises that he is 'too full o'th'milk of human kindness' and that this could stand in their way.
- It is interesting that she describes the necessary ruthless streak as an 'illness'.
- She is insistent that Macbeth will become King ('shalt be what thou art promised')
- This suggests that even at this stage she knows what she is doing is wrong.
- Lady Macbeth's determination to succeed is clear here.
- cunning
- When Macbeth expresses doubts, she uses every trick she can think of to make sure he carries out their plan to murder Duncan.
- To the outside world, Lady Macbeth seems like the ideal supportive wife but this is part of her ability to be deceptive.
- When he hesitates, she is there to urge Macbeth on.
- act 1 scene 6- lines 16-19
- Lady Macbeth welcomes Duncan to her home and flatters him so that he will not suspect a thing
- The word 'double' also links Lady Macbeth to the evil of the witches - they use the word repeatedly in one of their spells.
- She almost overdoes it when she exaggerates 'In every point twice done and then done double'.
- conscience-stricken
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