Lady Macbeth Archetype Essay

Archetypes are universal symbols that hook readers. They develop characters and help readers get a better understanding of the story. A commonly used archetype is the temptress, also known as being dangerously seductive. In the book Macbeth, Shakespeare gives us a perfect example of the ‘woman as temptress’ archetype. This example is Lady Macbeth because she uses her forms of manipulation to make her husband do evil things. She is a popular and intriguing character that redefines the entire story. Shakespeare’s character Lady Macbeth fulfills the Temptress archetype based on Jung’s findings through characteristics of ambition and ruthlessness, and is further defined as this in Rupert Goold’s film when she helps her husband do unspeakable things.

Although some readers were hesitant at first, his ideas eventually took over the field of literary studies, especially around the 1980s. Many historical periods have appreciated the versatility of Shakespeare's plays, allowing them to be reinterpreted through various lenses. Shakespeare tries to understand his characters in every aspect. The article, “What did Shakespeare understand about the human mind” continues to speak on this as it states, “His characters are not merely archetypes or products of generic convention, they are complex simulations of thinking and feeling in action” (Parvini 1). He captures the fundamental concepts about the way human minds work and includes them in his characters. The themes Shakespeare tackled in his plays, such as power, love, jealousy, betrayal, and the supernatural, are not bound by time or place. His play Macbeth jumps into the corrupting influence of power and ambition, a theme that echoes in modern politics. Shakespeare’s mastery of the English language also contributes to the timelessness of his

In the book of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth states, “That I pour my spirits in thine ear,// And chastise with the valor of my tongue” (1.5.23-24). Lady Macbeth wants to fill Macbeth with the ambition to kill his competition. She uses the word “spirit” to refer to her violent and wicked intentions. She is power hungry and uses her influence over Macbeth to her advantage. Lady Macbeth then says, “And live a coward in thine own esteem” while she speaks to her husband (1.7.46). She challenges his masculinity and bravery, tempting him to prove himself by following her plan. This manipulation is key to her temptress role, as she ignites the action that leads to their downfall. In the movie Macbeth by Rupert Goold, Lady Macbeth eventually convinces Macbeth to follow through with the murder, and not only does she approve, but she helps Macbeth place the daggers. She also mentions that the man they murdered resembles her father. This defines just how psychotic she is. Throughout the play, she also asks to be made masculine and filled with evil. In the book, she states, “Unsex me here/ And fill me, from the crown to my toe, top-full/ Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood”