Research Paper On Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth: The Early Feminist Blueprint Throughout history, women have been forced into the role of a subordinate, with limited opportunities. William Shakespeare's Macbeth challenges early feminist notations by displaying women as a complex portrayal of the balance between a contemporary societal expectation and the longing for unfulfilled aspirations. In the tragedy, Macbeth, Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth as a symbol to represent the gap between gender and power because she is very ambitious but is unable to achieve it because of her gender. Ultimately, it is revealing that women who have ambition and do not conform to societal norms that are forced upon them are seen as selfish and manipulative, whereas men who possess the same qualities

The introduction of Macbeth depicts him as a merciless soldier, he was described by higher roles valiant and brave for his ruthless killings. This is shown when the captain praises, “For brave Macbeth[]well he deserves that name[]/Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, []/Like Valour’s minion carve[s] out his passage/Till he face[s] the slave” (1.2.18-22). This quote reinforces the societal expectation that traits like bravery are inherently masculine, excluding women from virtues such as brave or valiant. Lady Macbeth was well aware of the constraints that came with her gender, and resented it.“Unsex me here/And fill me from the crown to the top-full/ Of direst cruelty”(1.5.42-44). Here, Lady Macbeth shows that she can easily adopt traditionally masculine qualities in order to pursue her ambitions. By expressing her desire to be “unsexed” and replaced with cruelty she is acknowledging that cruelty and ambition are associated with masculinity, and in order to attain her goals she is forced to discard her femininity as it was seen as weakness. Together these quotes highlight what it means to be powerful, and how to attain it. While Macbeth’s cruel actions are commended because of his manhood, Lady Macbeth is compelled to reject her femininity altogether, and when she proposes a plan to

Macbeth, who is expected to be the dominant force between himself and Lady Macbeth, is shown as vulnerable and frantic. Macbeth’s outlandish demeanour is represented during his hallucination of the Banquo. “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee,/ Thy bone is marrowless, thy blood is cold” (3.4.92-93). Macbeth starts to publicly display his weak mental state, which was not a typical trait associated with the male stereotype of strength and stoicism. Contrasting this, Lady Macbeth conducted herself with a strong commanding figure, maintaining composure during the peculiar events of the banquet, adeptly concealing any inner turmoil she had; adhering to a more masculine disposition in the face of adversity. As Lady Macbeth faces the unfolding chaos with grace, one observes her unwavering facade when she states, “Think of this, good peers,/ But as a thing of custom. ‘Tis no other;/ Only it spoils the pleasure of the time”(3.4.115-117). In saying this, Lady Macbeth only exemplifies a facade of strength, but highlights the interplay between societal expectations of a man and a woman. While Macbeth could orchestrate a scene without arousing suspicion, Lady Macbeth was forced to maintain composure. This dynamic highlights a societal double standard, where, if the roles are reversed, a woman exhibiting