Lady Macbeth A Villain Analysis

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ady Macbeth is defined by her villainous actions which are driven by her intensely selfish actions are catalyst for horrific and shocking actions, ultimately leading to her downfall. Lady Macbeth acts solely out of the desire for higher social status and is willing to commit treacherous crimes to become queen. Her overpowering craving for power is evident when she exclaims that she would go through extreme measures to become queen, including “pluck[ing] [her baby from her] nipple” and “dash[ing] the brains out ” (Shakespeare 1:7) against the wall. By expressing she is willing to send a newborn into misery if the child blocked her pathway to power, Lady Macbeth reveals her egotistical ambitions and her harmful intentions. Her willingness to …show more content…
Lady Macbeth calls to the spirits to “tend” to her “moral thoughts” and “unsex [her]” (1:5:48), professing her desire for the spirits to strip her from feminine weakness and fill her with masculine strength. By requesting to be “unsexed,” Lady Macbeth is providing insight into stereotypical gender roles of Medieval Scotland. In a defined patriarchal society, men dominate political and economic affairs, while women are expected to cook, clean, and bear children. While societal norms define women as compassionate neuters, Lady Macbeth contradicts this stereotype by pleading to the spirits asking for relief from the womanly instinct of empathy. In contrast, Macbeth, a brave and decorated soldier, is driven to insanity by the murder he commits, resulting in momentous guilt overburdening him. By juxtaposing Macbeth's remorse with Lady Macbeth's egotistical and heartless actions, Shakespeare defines Lady Macbeth as a villain. Lady Macbeth continues her ruthlessness by mocking Macbeth’s weakness after killing King Duncan by assuring that while “[her] hands are [also] of [his] colour” she will not wear a “heart so white," (2:2). As Macbeth is haunted by his repentance, Lady Macbeth cruelly disregards his empathy and states that blood can be easily be washed off with "a little water" (2:2). By questioning Macbeth’s
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