What Was The Cause Of Lady Macbeth's Downfall?
Cody A. Thompson Vanessa Dean British Literature 12 6 January 2016 What Was the Cause of Lady Macbeth’s Downfall? Lady Macbeth is one strange character. In the beginning of the play, the readers experience a very blood-thirsty, power-hungry woman. As the story unfolds, however, one can observe that Lady Macbeth slowly loses the power and authority she seemed to originally radiate. At some point in the story, Lady Macbeth’s conscience gets the best of her and therefore ultimately leads her to her somewhat accidental death. What happened to the unruly and driven woman that first appeared? Was it a guilty conscience? Was she scared her husband because of the power he had obtained? What kind of a woman is Lady Macbeth truly? Did she descend because of fear or of a guilty conscience? The audience sees a progressive change in Lady Macbeth 's attitude going from complete cruelty, to a slightly softened heart, to fear and anxiety, to a greater fear of being caught, and finally to a very obvious guilt hanging over her. It seems to be quite blatant that Lady Macbeth doubts her husband’s ability to rule and readers see her cruel side. In Act 1, Scene 5, she receives a letter from Macbeth stating that he had met three witches. He relayed what the witches had prophesied about him being Thane of Cawdor and Glamis, as well as being king. As …show more content…
She states that she is being tormented with anxiety and is fearful of what Banquo and Fleance could do to the two rulers. Could her fear be the cause of her downfall? The power and fierceness between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is comparable to a scale. The lower Lady Macbeth goes, the higher Macbeth goes. Her descent in power causes Macbeth to ascend in power, however, the fact that later on in the act, Macbeth seems to have planned a murder(s) without consent from Lady Macbeth, which shocks
Why Does Lady Macbeth Fail
392 Words | 2 PagesEarlier in Act 1 Macbeth and his friend and fellow military leader, Banquo, come across three witches out on the heath after a battle. The witches give both men prophecies; Macbeth is told he will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Minutes later, some men sent by the current King, Duncan, inform Macbeth he has been named Thane of Cawdor after the former thane
Who Is To Blame In Shakespeare's Macbeth?
727 Words | 3 Pages(1.3.126-128). To reinforce what Banquo says, Macbeth already knows that he is thane of Glamis. There is a battle going on, and the thane of Cawdor died, but Macbeth has yet to hear wind about it. The witches could have knowledge about this, and just told him what he wants to hear about being king
Why Is Lady Macbeth Bad
496 Words | 2 PagesThe misdeeds of lady Macbeth Lady macbeth is a villain so heinous she caused the death of scores of people in her life and after her death. Though she did not commit a single act of murder first hand, she caused the hand of Macbeth to strike. Because of her greed she ruined her husband and the lives of those around her. I question her sanity. If we look at the battle at the end of Macbeth, the events leading up to it can be traced all the way back to her.
Theme Of Control In Macbeth
873 Words | 4 PagesControl is a recurring theme in the play "Macbeth" as it warns the audience of the reprecussions of trying to control your fate. The first key event where control features in a significant way is the witches prophecies. They tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland which establishes the importance of fate. Shakespeare conveys the witches as agents of evil that are deceptive and dangerous, "oftentimes to win us to our harm/the instruments of darkness tell us truths," showing that they use truth itself to influence a horrible outcome (Macbeth 's tragic demise.) Their message is compelling and attractive and we can clearly see their effect on Macbeth as it greatly contrasts to that of Banquo.
Lady Macbeth's Tragic Flaw
132 Words | 1 PagesHer being overly ambitious and having greed for power triggers her to have a dramatic downfall. Lady Macbeth’s character goes through an abrupt shift from being ruthless and greedy in the first act to then being faced with numerous amounts of guilt and culpability who then seeks suicide to purge her from the guilt, it is clear that unreasonable forms
Lady Macbeth Manipulative Quotes
502 Words | 3 PagesWith this in mind, if a man couldn’t do something a woman can, he was a disgrace; Lady Macbeth is taunting Macbeth with the gender gap, which makes him want to prove he’s more masculine and can keep it together. Even though, Lady Macbeth is viewed as a manipulative character, towards the end, she changes and shows signs of remorse/regret, which is not like her character. Lady Macbeth begins to feel remorseful because she has made an outright killing machine out of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth starts to ask herself “The thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?
Lady Macbeth's Transformation Analysis
1049 Words | 5 PagesThe Transformation of Lady Macbeth Shakespeare’s Macbeth demonstrates how Lady Macbeth becomes less and less bloodthirsty after the murder of Duncan due to her humane qualities that allow her to feel guilt. Lady Macbeth transforms from a selfish murder-focused accomplice to a woman opposed to the murder of innocent people. Ultimately, she becomes a sleepwalker, consumed by her own guilt.
Examples Of Lady Macbeth's Guilt
1054 Words | 5 PagesAlthough introduced as a thoroughly hardened, ambitious woman, Lady Macbeth’s seemingly unbreakable character shatters when she is consumed by the demon of guilt. The guilt of Lady Macbeth seems nonexistent when she persuades Macbeth to kill King Duncan, but the heinous acts she and her husband commit throughout the play strain her slowly. Eventually, the guilt Lady Macbeth harbors emerges from her subconscious and crumbles her. The downfall of Lady Macbeth reveals that even the toughest, strongest, and most powerful people can succumb to guilt. At the commencement of William Shakespeare’s
Gender Stereotypes In Shakespeare's Macbeth
1183 Words | 5 PagesAs the Macbeth’s portray the opposite of social constructs and expectations in the play, they eventually fall into their belonged stereotype after Lady Macbeth slowly starts to spiral downhill. Once Macbeth feels as though someone is in the way of him becoming King, he instantly creates a plan to murder them like Lady Macbeth did with Duncan. As they eventually take up each others common behavior, Lady Macbeth drives herself to insanity due to her womanly feelings. “I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.” , she is seen sleepwalking and participating in strange activities due to the insanity driven from guilt (5.1.4-6).
Lady Macbeth Masculinity Quotes
107 Words | 1 PagesWilliam Shakespeare portrayed the character Lady Macbeth to be extremely ruthless, malicious and manipulative. Thus, being the reason she could easily convince Macbeth to do her will, yet still put on such a convincing performance in front of those who knew nothing of her and her husband’s actions. Lady Macbeth shows her complexity constantly throughout the story when she shares her view-point on masculinity by demasculinizing her own husband, when she strategically plans the murder of the King Duncan, and finally when she finally goes crazy because of the guilt she possesses for not only her own actions but also turning her own husband into a
Similarities Between Macbeth And The Great Gatsby
1959 Words | 8 PagesMihir Sharma Ms. Dornford ENG 3U1-05 10 December 2015 Power and Corruption William Shakespeare in “Macbeth” and F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby, depict how greed for power and social status can make women ruthless and crafty in their aspirations. To achieve their ulterior motives, they can destroy lives through either pretense or manipulation. William Shakespeare depicts women as malicious in their intent who can camouflage their real intent to achieve their ambitions. Lady Macbeth is unable to pursue her dreams due to social constraints.
Strengths And Weaknesses Of Lady Macbeth
569 Words | 3 PagesShe could just be a very evil person who only wants to murder and manipulate people. However, Lady Macbeth reveals evidence that this is not the case about her. Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk and speak about the murders she has been a part of. “Attack, I am afraid, they have awoke. And tis not done.”
Causes Of Macbeth's Downfall
876 Words | 4 PagesMacbeth started off as a valiant and courageous soldier, who would do anything for the king. By the end of the play, Macbeth was a tyrant and a horrible leader who killed those who trusted him to maintain the throne. It takes many factors to take a strong man and transform him into an evil monster. Macbeth’s downfall was caused by the deception and temptation of the witches and their prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s greed and aspirations for her husband to be king, and Macbeth’s own greed, jealousy and ambition.
Lady Macbeth's Loyalty Analysis
624 Words | 3 PagesShe is a loyal though misguided wife, not without tenderness and not without conscience. Lady Macbeth’s willingness to sacrifice her femininity exposes her loyalty towards Macbeth. After reading the letter regarding the witch’s prophecies, she decides she must do whatever it take to make Macbeth King: 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.
Macbeth Guilt And Regret Analysis
1578 Words | 7 PagesThe play Macbeth authored by William Shakespeare emphasizes a theme of guilt and regret in relation to unnatural acts, through the character change of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth, their relationship and how it can cause emotional breakdown loss of personality and ultimately, loss of sanity. The play was written in the early the 1600s and is set in Scotland. It focuses around the life of Macbeth a Thane, and future king of Scotland, who seemingly does whatever it takes to achieve this prestigious role. In the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth is steely in her mannerisms and appears to be willing to do anything in order to achieve what she ultimately desires. However, in the final act of the play her steely and cruel nature breaks down due to the
More about What Was The Cause Of Lady Macbeth's Downfall?
Why Does Lady Macbeth Fail
392 Words | 2 PagesWho Is To Blame In Shakespeare's Macbeth?
727 Words | 3 PagesWhy Is Lady Macbeth Bad
496 Words | 2 PagesTheme Of Control In Macbeth
873 Words | 4 PagesLady Macbeth's Tragic Flaw
132 Words | 1 PagesLady Macbeth Manipulative Quotes
502 Words | 3 PagesLady Macbeth's Transformation Analysis
1049 Words | 5 PagesExamples Of Lady Macbeth's Guilt
1054 Words | 5 PagesGender Stereotypes In Shakespeare's Macbeth
1183 Words | 5 PagesLady Macbeth Masculinity Quotes
107 Words | 1 PagesSimilarities Between Macbeth And The Great Gatsby
1959 Words | 8 PagesStrengths And Weaknesses Of Lady Macbeth
569 Words | 3 PagesCauses Of Macbeth's Downfall
876 Words | 4 PagesLady Macbeth's Loyalty Analysis
624 Words | 3 PagesMacbeth Guilt And Regret Analysis
1578 Words | 7 Pages