Macbeth English Characterization: Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Conscience- Stricken (Guilty)
1. EX #1) in act 3 , Lady Macbeth talks about how they have finally gotten rid of Duncan and placed Macbeth on the throne, but for some reason this did not bring her the happiness that she thought she would receive & that she now has to live with the memory of having killed Duncan who was there relative & friend.
  1. (3.2.6-9) " Nought's had, all's spent, where our desire is got without content. 'Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy." -Lady Macbeth
2. EX #2: When the doctor & gentlewoman observe Lady Macbeth in her strange sleep wandering state, where she starts to constantly rub her hands together as if she is trying to wash them. Here she complains about the blood on her hand that refuses to go away, which is reminding her of the wrongful murder that she planned and her husband committed.
  1. (5.1.30-34) " Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One -two-why then 'tis time to do it. Hell is murky. Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, & afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?" -Lady Macbeth
3. EX #3: When the doctor explains to the gentlewoman whats the reason behind Lady Macbeth's strange condition based off of her behavior during her sleep walking state.
  1. (5.1.63-65) " Foul whisperings are abroad. Unnatural deeds do breed unnatural troubles. Infected minds to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets." -Doctor
4. EX #4: When she she is still sleep walking & talking, lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth that there's nothing to worry about since Banquo is dead. Macbeth is actually not even present during this conversation. (she's probably filled with so much remorse that shes trying to place the blame on something/one else so she dose not think about how she is actually the one that is being affected and needs comforting)
  1. (5.1.54-56) " Wash your hands, put on your nightgown, look not so pale. I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried. He cannot come out his grave." -Lady Macbeth
Macho (Manly)
1. EX #1: After reading Macbeth's letter and before Macbeth enters the scene, she talks about how she wants Duncan dead and that she wants to get rid of he feminine sensitivities in order to do so & act more like a man.
  1. (1.5.43-46) " Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here & fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty!" -Lady Macbeth
2. EX #2: When she dose Macbeth's job of planting the bloody daggers on the guards, since Macbeth is to afraid to go back & do it himself.
  1. (2.2.63-68) " Infirm purpose! Give me the daggers. The sleeping & the dead are but as pictures. 'Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil. If he do bleed, I'll gild the faces of grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt." -Lady Macbeth
3. EX #3: When she has read the letter and says how shes worried about Macbeth's manhood since he's simply too kind. This goes to show that she's more of the man in their relationship since she has the ambition for him too become king but he doesn't have much or any ambition at all. (In her eyes)
  1. (1.5.13-18) " Glamis thou art, & Cawdor, & shalt be what thou art promised. Yet I do fear thy nature. It is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it." -Lady Macbeth
4. Ex: 4: When she is telling Macbeth to act more like a man, when he seemed to be backing away from their plan to murder Duncan. She gose on about how when she says she's going to do something, she will do it no matter how brutal it may be since she wouldn't go back on her word. (She tells us this through an example involving a baby)
  1. (1.7.59-64) "I have given suck & know how tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums & dashed the brains out had I so sworn as you have done to this." -Lady Macbeth
Machiavellian (Cunning)
1. EX #1: When she explains her plan on how to get away with killing Duncan to her husband
  1. (1.7.68-79) " When Duncan is asleep his 2 chamberlains will I with wine & wassail so convince that memory, the wander of the brain shall be a fume & the receipt of reason limbeck only. when in swinish sleep their drenched natures lie as in death, what cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan? What not put upon his spongy officers, who shall bear guilt of our great quell?" -Lady Macbeth
2. EX #2: After Duncan is murdered , Lady Macbeth & Macbeth wash there hands of evidence that they where involved. They then hear an unexpected knock at their castle door. Lady Macbeth quickly tells Macbeth what to do so that the unexpected guests won't suspect them of anything.
  1. (2.2.84-86) " Get on your nightgown, lest occasion call us & show us to be watchers. Be not lost so poorly in your thoughts." -Lady Macbeth
3. EX #3: When Duncan believes that she is a good and honorable hostess in act 1 , but we all know that she is just actually acting the part and wants to see him dead.
  1. (1.6.12-16) "See, see our honoured hostess! The love that follows us sometime is our trouble, which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you how you shall bid god yield us for your pains, & thank us for your trouble." -Duncan
4. EX #4: How quickly she managed to cover for her husband when he began to act strangely during that feast due to hallucinating having seen Banquo's ghost.
  1. (3.4.64-69) " Sit, worthy friends. My lord is often thus, & hath been since his youth. Pray you, keep seat. The fit is momentary. Upon a thought he will again be well. If much you note him, you shall offend him & extend his passion. Feed & regard him not..." (3.4.115-117) " Think of this, good peers, but as a thing of custom. 'Tis no other. Only it spoils the pleasure of time." -Lady Macbeth
Confident
1. EX #1: When they first plot the assassination of the king when Macbeth has gotten to his castle after his letter was already given to & read by lady Macbeth. She tells Macbeth to leave the rest of the plan to her.
  1. (1.5.79-81) " Only look up clear. To alter favour ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me." -Lady Macbeth
2. EX # 2: When Macbeth questions lady Macbeth about what would happen if their plan failed & she tells him that that's not possible and that he should have more courage.
  1. (1.7.66-68) " We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking-place & we'll not fail." -Lady Macbeth
3. EX #3: When she is waiting for her husband in the courtyard (while he's off to murder Duncan) & talks about how with the guards being drunk & asleep, she feels more bold.
  1. (2.2.1-3) " That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold; what hath quenched them hath given me fire." -Lady Macbeth
4. EX #4: When she returns from placing the daggers on the guards, and tells Macbeth that they don't have anything to worry about since they can just wash the (blood) evidence off of their hands.
  1. (2.2.80-81) " A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then! -Lady Macbeth
Imperious (Bossy/Overbearing)
1. EX #1: When she tells Macbeth that his face is like a book & that he should do a better job of acting innocent on the outside while hiding his true intentions underneath.
  1. (1.5.69-73) " Your face my thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters. To beguile the time, look like the time: bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue. Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it." -Lady Macbeth
2. EX #2: when she orders the shaken Macbeth to just go get some water to wash his hands of the blood that came from Duncan.
  1. (2.2.55-56) " Go, get some water & wash this filthy witness from your hand." -Lady Macbeth
3. EX #3: when she notices that Macbeth still has the bloody daggers with him. She orders him to go back and place them with the guards eventhough he is clearly still shaken up with dread of his sinful act.
  1. (2.2.57-59) " Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there. Go carry them, & smear the sleepy grooms with blood." -Lady Macbeth
4. EX: when she is hallucinating & repeats her memories of the past when she was telling her husband to hurry up & get to bed so that they won't be suspected. (after Duncan is dead & the knocking on their door happens)
  1. (5.1.58-60) "To bed, to bed. There's knocking at the gate. Come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's done cannot be undone. To bed, to bed, to bed." -Lady Macbeth

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Macbeth English Characterization: Lady Macbeth

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	Created by June Yi about 10 years ago