Lady Macbeth

• Symbolises appearances vs reality
• Lady Macbeth drives her husband - viewed as an antagonist
• she is kept out of the actions and plots, where she goes more anxious and blunt - eventually she is broken by grief and guilt (suicide)
• traditionally, wives had to be supportive of their husbands careers and aspirations, where pushing Macbeth to become king cause be her for filling her role as a devoted wife.
• Furthermore, LM’s motivation is her own ambitions and goals
• Lady Macbeth exploits appearances by transferring her desires and plan into Macbeth, (villian kept behind the scenes)
• Femme Fatales ( a woman who is mysterious and seductive, using her charm to ensnare men and lead them into dangerous situations)
• Shakespeare uses aspects of femme fetale in the character of lady Macbeth. Where she threatens to emasculate Macbeth to exploit his insecurities and get her own way.
• Furthermore, Shakespeare demonstrates the dangers of unrestrained female ambition and power
• Her acts of manipulation and seduction portray women as deceitful and wicked beings
• Her violent perception of masculinity, attacks his manhood and drives Macbeth to murder and tyranny
• LM is so powerful that an Jacobean audience would view ger a unnatural/supernatural
• suggests giving women power is dangerous/unnatural where the only way for a woman to be so brutal and strong is to be evil - her character allows Shakespeare to examine gender roles and the division of power in society.
• LM’s ambition is much more intense than macbeth
• doesn’t hesiTate - carves power
• ambition is infectious
• The insanity and torment she feels at the hand of her guilt is punishment for her villainy.