In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as an evil character through her
relentless pursuit for evil to commit evil deeds. This not only leads to the demise of our
husband but herself too; ultimately conveying Shakespeare’s belief of the humane inability to
contain power.
In this extract, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as an evil character through her deep
lust to be filled with evil. The extract begins with Lady Macbeth calling upon the witches she
asks that the “ spirits that tend on mortal thoughts” to ‘fill her from her crown to the toe top
full of direst cruelty”. This line alone epitomises Lady Macbeth’s evil nature as it reveals her
sickening lust for evil. She calls for the spirits to “unsex” her; the verb '' unsex " is defined as
the removal of quantities of sex/gender. The use of this by the playwright reveals Lady
Macbeth’s intentions to be disassociated from her gender – as perhaps she sees it to be a
weakness. At the time, a Jacobean audience would perceive women to be soft spoken and
kind; completely natural which proves to be the antithesis of Lady Macbeth's desire as she
wants to be completely evil. Furthermore, she longs to be “ filled” from”crown” to “toe” with
“direst cruelty “. Shakespeare uses clear vivid imagery to accentuate Lady Macbeth’s
intentions; she doesn’t want a small quantity of evil but rather she wants to be “ filled”. The
adjective filled bears connotations of a cup being filled with water. Shakespeare clearly uses
this to assist audiences in linking this image back to Lady Macbeth (the cup) she wants to be
filled with cruelty(water). In addition to this, the superlative ‘direst’ further exemplifies the
magnitude of evil she wants to be consumed with; not just cruelty but direst cruelty revealing
eagerness and desperation to be consumed with evil. Thus, Shakespeare presents leading
Macbeth to be an evil character by revealing her profound lust for evil.
Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth to be an evil character through her imposing of her evil
nature upon Macbeth through goading him and criticising him. As Macbeth begins to hesitate
going about killing the king, Lady Macbeth is seen to constantly goad him and insult him in
an attempt to motivate Macbeth into committing the regicide. She tells Macbeth “when he
durst commit the regicide then he were a man’ . This reference to Macbeth’s masculinity has
been used cleverly as a blow below the belt by Shakespeare. This is because a Jacobian
audience would see men to be noble and chivalrous; “ full of vaulting ambition” – as
confirmed by Macbeth himself. Therefore the questioning of the masculine capabilities is a
clever way to “ spur his intent”. however this goes to show the length Lady Macbeth is willing
to go to commit evil. In addition to this, Lady Macbeth is seen to question his physical
capabilities in comparison between the two of them. Lady Macbeth states he is. “ too full of
the milk of human kindness.'' This reference to milk is a recurrent theme in the play, and is
present here. Milk is a drink given to babies aiding them in growth. Milk is also produced by
mothers when they have children – proving to be natural formula for the use of milk and her
suggesting Macbeth is too full of it suggests She believes Macbeth is too nice; further
revealing her callous way as she despises goodness. Perhaps, it is another reference to
gender as perhaps she compares Macbeth to a woman, suggesting he is woman-like and is
full of milk. This again would enrage contemporary audiences who are male as they detest
being compared with women – their social inferiors. Lady Macbeth is fully aware of this and
knows this will lead to a reaction from Macbeth which automatically leads to him killing the
king. Thus, Shakespeare presents leading Macbeth to be an evil character through her
attempts of engraving her evilness onto Macbeth which is successful and he is changed
from Noble to being a tyrant.
, Finally, Shakespeare purposely presents Lady Macbeth to not being evil in an attempt to
warn his audience of the ramifications of indulging in evil. Act Five scene one Shakespeare
introduces his audience to the effects of evil through Lady Macbeth‘s desperation to rid
herself of evil. She seems to sleepwalk and during this scene, she tries to disassociate
herself from evil. She cries “ out damned spot”. The imperative out channels a sense of
urgency and desperation; the same urgency and desperation which were seen previously in
act one scene five when she wanted to be filled with cruelty. Moreover, what is particularly
interesting, Is the adjective damned. The adjective Damned is defined as something
condemned by God and sent to punishment in hell. The mere fact that she has a spot
coming from hell is a reminder of the actions she has committed; perhaps Shakespeare
teaches his audience that’s their previous evil ways. Will stay with them wherever they go. in
addition to this lady Macbeth’s desperation is Epitomised through her rhetorical question in
which she asks “if even the perfumes of Arabia will sweeten her little hand”. This is a stark
contrast from the ending of the scene in which Macbeth had killed Duncan. She believes that
a little water could read them of this act however now she belongs for the synonymously
known strong pungent smells of Arabia. Shakespeare includes this sense of irony to reveal
lady Macbeth guilt and remorse communicating with his audience that conforming and evil is
not natural and you will always regret it ultimately takes a toll on them which is evident when
lady Macbeth kills herself. Thus Shakespeare purposefully reveals lady Macbeth to not be
an evil character as the end of the play to teach his audience of the consequences of
indulging in evil.
To conclude Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as an evil character through her desire to
be consumed with evil. However, Shakespeare reveals his message of the human inability to
control as their evil desires will come back to them as seen by Lady Macbeth killing herself.
Excellent - well done you’ve made sure that everything you have said is linked with the
question. You’ve used some fantastic language analysis and you’ve made sure that
everything is focused throughout very well done indeed George.
relentless pursuit for evil to commit evil deeds. This not only leads to the demise of our
husband but herself too; ultimately conveying Shakespeare’s belief of the humane inability to
contain power.
In this extract, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as an evil character through her deep
lust to be filled with evil. The extract begins with Lady Macbeth calling upon the witches she
asks that the “ spirits that tend on mortal thoughts” to ‘fill her from her crown to the toe top
full of direst cruelty”. This line alone epitomises Lady Macbeth’s evil nature as it reveals her
sickening lust for evil. She calls for the spirits to “unsex” her; the verb '' unsex " is defined as
the removal of quantities of sex/gender. The use of this by the playwright reveals Lady
Macbeth’s intentions to be disassociated from her gender – as perhaps she sees it to be a
weakness. At the time, a Jacobean audience would perceive women to be soft spoken and
kind; completely natural which proves to be the antithesis of Lady Macbeth's desire as she
wants to be completely evil. Furthermore, she longs to be “ filled” from”crown” to “toe” with
“direst cruelty “. Shakespeare uses clear vivid imagery to accentuate Lady Macbeth’s
intentions; she doesn’t want a small quantity of evil but rather she wants to be “ filled”. The
adjective filled bears connotations of a cup being filled with water. Shakespeare clearly uses
this to assist audiences in linking this image back to Lady Macbeth (the cup) she wants to be
filled with cruelty(water). In addition to this, the superlative ‘direst’ further exemplifies the
magnitude of evil she wants to be consumed with; not just cruelty but direst cruelty revealing
eagerness and desperation to be consumed with evil. Thus, Shakespeare presents leading
Macbeth to be an evil character by revealing her profound lust for evil.
Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth to be an evil character through her imposing of her evil
nature upon Macbeth through goading him and criticising him. As Macbeth begins to hesitate
going about killing the king, Lady Macbeth is seen to constantly goad him and insult him in
an attempt to motivate Macbeth into committing the regicide. She tells Macbeth “when he
durst commit the regicide then he were a man’ . This reference to Macbeth’s masculinity has
been used cleverly as a blow below the belt by Shakespeare. This is because a Jacobian
audience would see men to be noble and chivalrous; “ full of vaulting ambition” – as
confirmed by Macbeth himself. Therefore the questioning of the masculine capabilities is a
clever way to “ spur his intent”. however this goes to show the length Lady Macbeth is willing
to go to commit evil. In addition to this, Lady Macbeth is seen to question his physical
capabilities in comparison between the two of them. Lady Macbeth states he is. “ too full of
the milk of human kindness.'' This reference to milk is a recurrent theme in the play, and is
present here. Milk is a drink given to babies aiding them in growth. Milk is also produced by
mothers when they have children – proving to be natural formula for the use of milk and her
suggesting Macbeth is too full of it suggests She believes Macbeth is too nice; further
revealing her callous way as she despises goodness. Perhaps, it is another reference to
gender as perhaps she compares Macbeth to a woman, suggesting he is woman-like and is
full of milk. This again would enrage contemporary audiences who are male as they detest
being compared with women – their social inferiors. Lady Macbeth is fully aware of this and
knows this will lead to a reaction from Macbeth which automatically leads to him killing the
king. Thus, Shakespeare presents leading Macbeth to be an evil character through her
attempts of engraving her evilness onto Macbeth which is successful and he is changed
from Noble to being a tyrant.
, Finally, Shakespeare purposely presents Lady Macbeth to not being evil in an attempt to
warn his audience of the ramifications of indulging in evil. Act Five scene one Shakespeare
introduces his audience to the effects of evil through Lady Macbeth‘s desperation to rid
herself of evil. She seems to sleepwalk and during this scene, she tries to disassociate
herself from evil. She cries “ out damned spot”. The imperative out channels a sense of
urgency and desperation; the same urgency and desperation which were seen previously in
act one scene five when she wanted to be filled with cruelty. Moreover, what is particularly
interesting, Is the adjective damned. The adjective Damned is defined as something
condemned by God and sent to punishment in hell. The mere fact that she has a spot
coming from hell is a reminder of the actions she has committed; perhaps Shakespeare
teaches his audience that’s their previous evil ways. Will stay with them wherever they go. in
addition to this lady Macbeth’s desperation is Epitomised through her rhetorical question in
which she asks “if even the perfumes of Arabia will sweeten her little hand”. This is a stark
contrast from the ending of the scene in which Macbeth had killed Duncan. She believes that
a little water could read them of this act however now she belongs for the synonymously
known strong pungent smells of Arabia. Shakespeare includes this sense of irony to reveal
lady Macbeth guilt and remorse communicating with his audience that conforming and evil is
not natural and you will always regret it ultimately takes a toll on them which is evident when
lady Macbeth kills herself. Thus Shakespeare purposefully reveals lady Macbeth to not be
an evil character as the end of the play to teach his audience of the consequences of
indulging in evil.
To conclude Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as an evil character through her desire to
be consumed with evil. However, Shakespeare reveals his message of the human inability to
control as their evil desires will come back to them as seen by Lady Macbeth killing herself.
Excellent - well done you’ve made sure that everything you have said is linked with the
question. You’ve used some fantastic language analysis and you’ve made sure that
everything is focused throughout very well done indeed George.
