Lady Macbeth Character Analysis
Regardless of how strong a mind may be, people can fall victim to their own personal desires. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s sympathetic nature collides with her motivations, which are fueled by her desire to become queen. Before the murder of King Duncan takes place, Lady Macbeth proves that she is not the ruthless villain she portrays herself to be. After the murder takes place, she becomes confined in her own guilt and isolation. Finally, her guilt carries into her dreams as she has nightmares about the horrible crime. In conclusion, Lady Macbeth’s greed overtakes her sensitive character, therefore turning her into a victim of her own greed. In Lady Macbeth character analysis essay we will have a closer look at this woman.
Before the murder of King Duncan takes place, Lady Macbeth proves that compassion and warmth exists within her heart. In Act I, scene VII, Lady Macbeth is having a conversation with her husband, Macbeth, as he prepares to kill King Duncan. Even though she illustrates herself to be a heartless lady who is greedy for power, she says, “How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me”. For someone who is persuading her husband to commit such a horrific crime, her speech shows that she is capable of tenderness and love. Furthermore, when she is alone and speaking to herself, she says, “And take my milk for gall”. She believes that her abundance of compassion needs to be taken away to go forth with the crime, further showing the warmth she possesses. Later, in Act II, scene ii, Lady Macbeth is tense as she waits for Macbeth to return from killing King Duncan. Within this scene, she confesses, “Had he not resembled/My father as he slept I had done’t”. For someone who portrays herself as the major villain, her lack of action proves that she is a coward who leaves her husband to do her bidding. Therefore, her words and actions demonstrate her delicate personality, proving that she is more than what she appears to be.
Additionally, after the murder of King Duncan takes place, Lady Macbeth begins to experience feelings of regret and loneliness. In Act III, scene II Lady Macbeth grows anxious and restless about the murder. This leads her to saying “Nought’s had, all’s spent/Where our desire is got without content”. Even though she rules the throne as queen now, she cannot be truly happy because of the sacrifice she makes to get to her position. Later, Macbeth walks in and tells her that “There shall be done a deed of dreadful note”. He does not tell Lady Macbeth that he is planning to murder Banquo. However, she suspects him due to the suspicious atmosphere Macbeth creates, which leads to her realization of her position out of his plans. Now that he has become a stranger to her, she is left alone to deal with her own regret. Lady Macbeth is now confined to her own emotions, and is left to fend by myself without any support.
Lastly, Lady Macbeth’s descent into madness is heavily present, as her nightmares plague her about the fateful night. When the Doctor and the Gentlewoman speak to one another, they reveal that Lady Macbeth’s dreams lead her to sleepwalk around the castle. As she sleepwalks, she is heard saying sentences like, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! … Hell is murky!” Lady Macbeth’s conscience is desperately trying to wash away the regret which continues to build up within her. However, her sensitive mind cannot handle the overwhelming sense of shock and guilt, throwing her into a state of insanity. Lady Macbeth continues to speak, saying, “Yet who would have thought the old man to have/ had so much blood in him?” Lady Macbeth now understands the true horror of what she is hiding from, further enforcing the distressed emotional state that guilt is putting onto herself. Due to her crime out of greed, Lady Macbeth’s dreams become a prison of guilt.
