Lady Macbeth's Wife Quotes

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Many people may think of an average woman as being accommodating, easygoing, and merciful, but there is something different about a particular one, Lady Macbeth. In the play “Macbeth”, Macbeth’s wife proves herself to be only the opposite of the average women. Lady Macbeth, not only is selfish and cruel, but manipulating in everything she does. What more could Macbeth ask for in a wife? In order to fully represent Lady Macbeth, the beginning is where we can see her personality the clearest. This being said, we are introduced to Lady Macbeth through her writing a letter to Macbeth. Saying, “Yet do I fear thy [Macbeth’s] nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness.” (10) With this quote, the given impression is that Lady Macbeth does …show more content…
As this quote depicts, Lady Macbeth is cruel beyond belief, “I have given suck, and know how tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.” (12). What she is saying is that if she had sworn to kill her child before her pregnancy and birth, then she would follow through. Though, this quote also shows her manipulative side, this characteristic will be discussed in the next paragraph. Saying this, Lady Macbeth is truly cruel, and this fact cannot be hidden. “Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures: 'tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of the grooms withal; for it must seem their guilt.” (15) This quote is from after the deed, Duncan’s murder, and Macbeth comes back with the daggers. Consequently, the daggers were meant to incriminate the drunk servants, and Lady Macbeth went back to finish the deed. This furthers the point that Lady Macbeth is not just cruel, but heartless enough to return back to a murder site and slather the dead king’s blood on innocent servants. Lady Macbeth goes to great lengths to bring the prophecy of power into her grasp, but on the way, cruelty plagues her very …show more content…
The very character and reason for Lady Macbeth in the play is to manipulate and convince her husband to force his destiny. As this quote depicts, Lady Macbeth continually calls upon Macbeths manhood to achieve what she desires. “Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem, letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' like the poor cat i' the adage?” (12). Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth uses Macbeths manhood to convince him and persuade him to do what he “needs to do”. Again, her manipulation is recognized in her saying to Macbeth, “Infirm of purpose!” (15), “Come on; Gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks;”(20), and “What, quite unmann'd in folly?” (22). Though, besides her manipulation throughout the play, a turn in character in evident near the resolution, but as it is Lady Macbeth was still guilty of manipulation.
In the end, we see Lady Macbeth is shamefaced and guilty in deed and mind, but all remains; Lady Macbeth is manipulating, selfish and cruel. Without her, the play “Macbeth” would not be the fascinating tragedy it was meant to be, and Macbeth wouldn’t have had the wife of his
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