Study Of Lady Macbeth Essay, Research Paper

Changes through the play ???? Lady Macbeth

is the wife of Macbeth who has just come from a battle and has just been named

Thane of Cawdor. The first time we see her in the play, she receives a letter

from Macbeth talking about three witches and what they said to him. It reads

that the witches have predicted that Macbeth will be the new king. Lady Macbeth

is already of how to get rid of Duncan who is the present king. ???? Lady Macbeth is told that King Duncan

will be coming to stay at their place. She is startled by the news and calls on

evil spirits to change her and lose her femininity. ?Come you spirits that tend

on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe

top-full of direst cruelty, make thick my blood? etc. She is saying to the evil

spirits give me murderous thoughts, make me have no sympathy for humanity at

all. ??? When King Duncan arrives at Macbeths?

house, Lady Macbeth has already thought of a plan to get rid of him. She treats

Duncan as if she is the perfect hostess and hides all her feelings better than

Macbeth. ??? Later, Macbeth has felt that he cannot go

through with it. Lady Macbeth who is very sly urges him to continue with the

murder. The words that Lady Macbeth gives him are very persuasive. She accuses

him of being a coward and makes him think he does not love her. ?Wouldst thou

have that which thou esteem?st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine

own esteem?. ??? Lady Macbeth explains her plan to Macbeth.

He is impressed and carries on with the murder. He asks her ?If we should

fail?. She says, ?We fail?? as if it is inevitable that they should succeed.

She has control over Macbeth in this part of the play. ??? ?To alter favour ever is to fear?. Lady

Macbeth says this to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is saying that if you change your

mind, you had better watch out! ??? In Act 2 Scene 2 Lady Macbeth has prepared

for the murder and waits for Macbeth. In the Beginning of Scene 2, she has

different moods. ?That which hath? made me bold?. She sounds bold and

courageous when she says that. The next line she says is ?What hath quench them

hath given me fire, Hark! Peace?, she is startled from outside noise. She

realises it is a bird shrieking. ?It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal

bellman, which gives the stern?st good night? she says as she is relieved. ??? When Macbeth has returned from the murder

and Lady Macbeth is worrying. Macbeth then tells his wife that he has done the

deed. ??? Around this part, iambic pentameter is

being used: ?Did not you speak?? ? When?? ? Now? ? As I decended??. The words

may not be in the same line but is spoken in a sort of rhythm. All the words

spoken are spoken in fear and many questions. Lady

Macbeth later says to Macbeth ? These deeds must not be thought, after these

ways, so, it will make us mad"? She is saying to him to sort himself out,

otherwise, he will just go mad. Later, she sees he has brought back the

daggers. Lady Macbeth realises that it was a bad idea to bring them back.

Macbeth refuses to take them back to the scene so; Lady Macbeth takes the daggers

and puts them back in the bedroom. She says ?Infirm of purpose?, Give me the

daggers?. She seems to have no fear about the situation, but there seems to be

some sort of nervousness in her. Macbeth?s wife returns with blood stains all

over her hands. She points out that they both have bloodstained hands by saying,

?My hands are of your colour, but I shame, to wear a heart so white?. She makes

Macbeth feel that they are both equal to blame for the murder of Duncan. Lady

Macbeth is trying to straighten out Macbeth although he is still quite fearful.

She also mentions ?Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done?t?.

She tries to make Macbeth feel reassured and that Macbeth can justify to what

he has done. ???? Lady Macbeth does not reappear until Act

2 Scene 3. In this scene Macduff is appalled by Duncan?s death Lady Macbeth is

told of Duncan?s death but says ?What, in our house??. She seems puzzled but

not at all shocked. She does not show feelings of what a natural woman would

do. After a while Macbeth has killed the guards assumed of killing the king.

Lady Macbeth has now fainted and is taken for treatment. She has maybe because

of Macbeth?s speech that he gives, so she faints to distract attention from

him. There could be something concerning her or worrying her. It could be real

after all that she has been through, and is affected by physical weakness. ??? Macbeth is now king, but Banquo suspects

him of foul play. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth invite Banquo to a formal banquet.

Macbeth and his queen are very concerned to make their first public entrance as

impressive as possible. In Act 3 Scene 2 Lady Macbeth deals with Macbeth?s mood

of depression. Macbeth believes that they have only ?scorched the snake, not

killed it?. He cannot stop thinking about the murder, but Lady Macbeth urges

her husband to put the past behind him. She does not know that Macbeth has a

plot to kill Banquo. Macbeth has calmed down towards the end of the scene. ???? Banquo has now been murdered but Fleance

escapes. At the banquet, Macbeth is told of Banquo?s murder. He also hears of

Fleance?s escape and is very unsatisfied. Macbeth turns his attention back to

the banquet. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth ?My royal lord, you do not give the

cheer?. She is telling Macbeth to please his people as a good host should do. While

Macbeth is talking, he sees Banquo?s ghost in his seat. His reaction startles

his guests so; Lady Macbeth makes excuses for her husband. ?Sit, worthy

friends.? My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth? are the words

that Lady Macbeth explains Macbeths? actions. The ghost disappears but reappears

again making Macbeth go insane. Banquo?s continues to haunt Macbeth, but

Macbeth insists his guests stay. Lady Macbeth urges the guests to leave. She

fears Macbeth will say too much. Lady Macbeth then tells everyone ?A kind good

night to all?. ???? After the banquet, Lady Macbeth is very

quiet. She seems tired and drained. Maybe it is because of tiredness or even

more than that. ???? By this time, Macbeth has seen the

witches again, to ask of his future. Lady Macduff has been killed with her son. ???? In Act 5 Scene 1, we see Lady Macbeth

again, but this time she has been through different moods. Lady Macbeth?s

waiting gentlewoman has called in a doctor to view Lady Macbeth?s actions in

her sleepwalking. She speaks of references concerning Duncan and Lady Macduff?s

deaths. Lady Macbeth refers to her hands that seem to have specks of blood by saying,

?Out damned spot, out I say!?. She seems haunted by what she has done. The

doctor tells the gentlewoman to call on a priest rather than a doctor and to

keep a close eye on Lady Macbeth. ???? Macbeth is now ready to fight a battle,

and hears of his wife?s? illness which cannot be explained. The doctor tells

Macbeth of his wife and says, ?Cure her of that? as if he is not concerned.

Since the murder the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth has

deteriorated and does not seem to be getting any better. ???? Macbeth has turned very confident. Seyton

brings him news that Lady Macbeth is dead. Macbeth feels drained and tells of

how she should have died older. To reflect on his wifes? life he says ?She

should have died hereafter, there would have been a time for such a word?. He

reflects upon her life, and does not hear of Lady Macbeth again. ?????

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