Lady Macbeth Apathetic Character

As Isabel Allende said “A man does what he can; a woman does what a man cannot.”

In previous societies, the thought of a woman acquiring power is considered as a joke. Women are viewed as innocent caregivers serving for the needs of a man. William Shakespeare wrote a controversial play involving a strong woman role. A dominate woman role was unheard of in the Elizabethan time period and broke the stereotypical view of what a woman is. Through the use of negative imagery and diction in Macbeth, William Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as dominate and apathetic. As the play progresses, Lady Macbeth characteristics help emphasize the reversed imbalanced relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Shakespeare depicts Lady Macbeth as

Once Macbeth murders Duncan he immediately tenses and panics, but Lady Macbeth steps up and calms him down: “Give me the daggers, The sleeping and the dead/ Are but as pictures; tis the eye of childhood/ That fears a painted devil.” (II.II.56-58). The use of “devil” in the passage, gives off a dark and evil connotation just like murdering Duncan. Even right after the death of Duncan she still shows no remorse for contributing. All she considers is to hide the obvious evidence, Lady Macbeth knows Macbeth could abandon the plans at any moment. She must remain strong and ruthless for both of their sakes. This passage shows the mentality of Lady Macbeth, she does not want to be found guilty ruining her chance of power. Macbeth is anxious and fearful, which is considered to be “unmanly”. Lady Macbeth is assertive and governing while Macbeth is first shown as submissive unless commanded by

Lady Macbeth utilize her demanding features to emotionally and sneakily manipulate Macbeth in murdering Duncan. She also lacks apathy and emotion for the unworthy death of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is a strong woman role in the play, she exhibits a manly personality in the Elizabethan time. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth roles has reverse in the beginning of the play. Their imbalanced relationships would only further cause the Macbeth’s to struggle in their relationship and have a lack of trust in each