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Lady Macbeth: A True Villain

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The character of Lady Macbeth is extremely complex, she can be viewed as either a guilt ridden wife; fallen victim to her circumstances. Or a villain who is responsible for the horrific events of Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth”. I believe that Lady Macbeth’s malicious intent and actions throughout “Macbeth” clearly present her as the real villain of the play, despite the conflict of her character. Significantly, Lady Macbeth would have been a unique character in Shakespearian times; she is a powerful woman who clearly controls the weaker Macbeth certainly until the onset of her demise. Her dominant characterisation would have been unsettling at the time when “Macbeth” was written; a time when women were oppressed. Lady Macbeth transcends …show more content…

These aspects of Lady Macbeth’s character are undoubtedly positive and contrast starkly with her actions, hence emphasising the theme of conflict in the play. Lady Macbeth is shown to have some good aspects; therefore one could argue that Lady Macbeth is a victim of other characters responsible for her circumstances. Although, despite the role of the witches; providing the prophecy that begins Lady Macbeth’s descent into evil and Macbeth; bringing strife to Scotland. I believe that Lady Macbeth's role in murdering Duncan and her representation of negative themes presents her as the real villain of the tragedy “Macbeth”. Lady Macbeth acts on the witches prophecy with malevolence and Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a tool of his wife, which Lady Macbeth uses to fulfil her …show more content…

Here Shakespeare clearly uses unnatural imagery with the intent of relating Lady Macbeth to the supernatural, a theme associated with evil in the 1600’s: Further emphasising her role as a villain. In addition, Lady Macbeth is partially responsible for Macbeth’s transition into the villain or “beast” he becomes in the latter acts of the play. Many consider Macbeth to be the main villain of the play, however, he is clearly not a natural villain whereas Lady Macbeth is. She convinces Macbeth to murder and to lie, she is clearly the facilitator of his development into a villain. Moreover she is the facilitator of the development of evil within the

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