Lady Macbeth

• The controversial wife of the play’s tragic hero, Macbeth. She goes mad with the guilt from her ambitious actions.
• Key Character Traits

  • Ambitious
  • Ruthless
  • Clever & persuasive
  • Tormented
• Ambitious


  She will do anything for Macbeth to be King
• Ruthless

  She wants to be filled with "direst cruelty" to help her murder Duncan
• Clever & persuasive


  She plays on Macbeth's weaknesses, e.g. calling him a "coward", to convince him to kill Duncan
• Tormented

  She can't live with her guilt about their crimes
• “The fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements” 


  Lady Macbeth plans to kill Duncan as soon as the chance presents itself (Act 1 Scene 5)
• “Come, you spirits that tend on moral thoughts, unsex me here“ 


  Lady Macbeth calls on spirits to counteract the femininity that would stop her from committing evil deeds. (Act 1 Scene 5)
• “ When durst do it, then you were a man”


  Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by calling into question his masculinity (Act 1 Scene 7)
• “I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, dash’d the brains out” 


  Lady Macbeth uses gory imagery to persuade Macbeth to keep his word (Act 1 Scene 7)
• “Go get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand.”


  Lady Macbeth suggests to her husband that his guilt can simply be washed away (Act 2 Scene 2)
• “Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead are but as pictures” 


  Lady Macbeth takes control of covering up Duncan’s murder (Act 2 Scene 2)
• “This is the air-drawn dagger which, you said, led you to Duncan”


  Lady Macbeth is dismissive when Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost (Act 3 Scene 4)
• “At once, good night: stand not upon the order of your going, but go at once”


  Lady Macbeth takes control again because her husband will not calm down; she tells the guests to leave immediately (Act 3 Scene 4)
• “Out, damned spot!” 


  Lady Macbeth’s guilt catches up with her (Act 5 Scene 1)
• “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand” 


  Lady Macbeth’s language mirrors Macbeth’s own guilty hallucinations (Act 5 Scene 1)