Violence

• "Dash'd the brains out" (Act 1)

  • The plosive on "dash'd" creates a brutal sound, mirroring her brutal rejection of motherly instincts. Her proclivity (tendency) for violence takes precedence over motherhood, leading to her unapologetic willingness to extinguish human life in the relentless pursuit of unchecked violent ambition.
  • The deliberate juxtaposition between the forceful verb "dash'd" and the delicate nature of "brains" serves as a poignant symbol reflecting Lady Macbeth's character. Despite her seemingly fragile exterior, she harbours a strong desire to instigate violence and chaos.
  • Notably, her choice of targeting the vulnerable "brains" of infants signifies a recognition of both the paramount importance and extreme fragility of human existence. Yet this is ironic, as the very organ she seeks to disrupt in her unborn child - the seat of morality and reason - becomes the locus of her own downfall.
• How does it link to ambition?

  Lady Macbeth's ambitions defied Jacobean norms where women were confined to maternal roles. Unconventional and marked by a ruthless thirst for power, her desires departed from societal expectations, reflecting a relentless pursuit of invincible authority.
• How does it link to gender?

  Lady Macbeth's capacity for violence is constrained by her gender. Her ambition never led to physical violence but she was the tyrannical violent force behind Macbeth -her femininity restricted her from transforming her ambition to physical violence.