Lady Macbeth

• How can Lady Macbeth be viewed in the context of her relationship with Macbeth?

  As an antagonist or a tragic heroine
• What does it mean for Lady Macbeth to be a tragic heroine?

  She starts in a position of glory but falls from grace due to her own errors
• What is Lady Macbeth's emotional state after Duncan's murder?

  She grows more anxious and blunt
• What motivates Lady Macbeth to push Macbeth towards murder?

  Her ambition and desire for power
• How does Lady Macbeth's ambition relate to her gender role in society?

  Her ambitions are limited by her gender, so she pushes Macbeth to achieve her goals
• What does Lady Macbeth want to compensate for by becoming queen?

  Her lost children
• How does Lady Macbeth manipulate others in the play?

  By exploiting their prejudices and assumptions
• What role does Lady Macbeth play in Macbeth's actions?

  She transfers her desires and plans into him, making him act on her wishes
• How does Lady Macbeth's character relate to the Witches in the play?

  Both manipulate appearances and have ambiguous gender identities
• What literary device does Shakespeare use to reveal Lady Macbeth's true intentions?

  Soliloquies
• What happens to Lady Macbeth's sense of self throughout the play?

  It deteriorates due to her suffering and guilt
• What is a common archetype for female characters in literature, as seen in Lady Macbeth?

  Femme Fatale
• What traits are commonly associated with femme fatales?

  Heightened sexuality and rejection of motherhood
• What does the archetype of 'The Fall' signify in literature?

  A character descends from a higher to a lower state due to loss of innocence
• Who is the most famous example of 'The Fall' in literature?

  Eve from the Garden of Eden
• What parallels exist between Lady Macbeth and Eve from the Garden of Eden?

  Both are seen as responsible for the downfall of honorable men
• What does Arthurian Legend represent in literature?

  Examples of ideal kingship and chivalry
• How does Lady Macbeth's role compare to Morgan le Fay in Arthurian Legend?

  Both are lovers of the main hero but also contribute to their downfall
• What societal expectations did women face in the Jacobean Era?

  Women had no legal rights and were expected to marry and have children
• How does Lady Macbeth cope with her societal role as a woman?

  She becomes a dominant figure in her marriage
• What does Lady Macbeth's rejection of motherhood signify?

  Her desire to abandon traditional female roles
• How does Lady Macbeth's character challenge traditional gender roles?

  She exhibits ambition and power typically reserved for male characters
• What does Shakespeare suggest about women in power through Lady Macbeth's character?

  That it is dangerous and unnatural
• What is one key characteristic of Lady Macbeth's ambition?

  It is more intense and violent than Macbeth's
• What does Lady Macbeth's call to evil spirits signify about her character?

  Her willingness to sacrifice morality for ambition
• How does Lady Macbeth's character contribute to the theme of ambition in 'Macbeth'?

  She embodies the dangers of unchecked ambition
• What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's violent language?

  It reflects her intense ambition and desire for power
• How does Lady Macbeth's ambition affect her relationship with Macbeth?

  It drives him to commit murder and tyranny
• What does Lady Macbeth's character reveal about the nature of evil in 'Macbeth'?

  Evil can be driven by ambition and desire for power
• What is the effect of Lady Macbeth's soliloquies on the audience?

  They reveal her true intentions and deceit
• How does Lady Macbeth's character contribute to the overall theme of appearances vs. reality?

  She embodies the deceitful nature of appearances
• What does Lady Macbeth's manipulation of Macbeth suggest about her character?

  She is cunning and uses her influence to achieve her goals
• What does Lady Macbeth's ambition ultimately lead to?

  Her downfall and tragic end
• How does Lady Macbeth's character reflect the societal views of women in the Jacobean Era?

  She embodies the struggle against societal limitations placed on women
• What is questionable about Lady Macbeth's wish to be "unsex[ed]" and made cruel?

  Her success in achieving this wish is questionable as she loses confidence after Duncan's murder.
• How does Lady Macbeth's ambition change after Duncan's murder?

  Her ambition disappears and she becomes fixated on her paranoia.
• What does Lady Macbeth's ambition represent for her?

  It represents an act of sacrifice, abandoning hopes of virtue or salvation.
• How does Shakespeare portray ambition in relation to Lady Macbeth?

  Shakespeare argues that ambition itself isn’t the issue, but how Lady Macbeth embraces its control.
• What does Lady Macbeth disregard in her pursuit of ambition?

  She disregards morality and the natural order.
• What literary device does Lady Macbeth use while persuading Macbeth?

  She speaks in rhyming couplets, imitating the Witches’ spells.