LADY MACBETH

#evil #powerful #masculine #biggerballsthanherhusband #doyouhavetobelikeamaleto bepowerful? #Shakespeareissexist

The audiences perception of women during Shakespeares time

Obeyed their husbands every decision. No influence. Dominated by their father and then their husbands. Completely against violence of any sorts. No say in the finer details of married life; money, land etc.

Avid follower of religion. Life is ruled by the traditions of Christianity.

Mother & care giver.

Gender in Shakespearean plays

Women in power are treated with distrust by Shakespeare. If they are in power or dominant or ambitious they are usually evil or immoral (Lady Macbeth/The Weird Sisters) For these women, the penalty for their scheming ways is normally death. Do you remember what how Lady Macbeth meets her end?

A closer look at Lady Macbeth

What is she doing when we (the audience) first see her after reading the letter? Plotting Duncans death What do we notice about her character in comparison to Macbeth? She is stronger, more ruthless, and more ambitious than her husband. She seems fully aware of this and knows that she will have to push Macbeth into committing murder.

A closer look at Lady Macbeth

1. Find and quote where she says she wasnt a woman so that she could kill Duncan herself 2. Find and quote where Macbeth implies that she is a masculine soul inhabiting a female body. (Notice again how it is masculinity that is linked to ambition and violence because apparently females are not like this naturally #Shakespeareissexist) 3. Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband with remarkable effectiveness, overriding all his objections; when he hesitates to murder, she repeatedly questions his manhood until he feels that he must commit murder to prove himself. Find and quote where this occurs.

Lady Macbeth - Act 1 Scene 5

Lady Macbeth reads a letter from Macbeth that explains his meeting with the Witches. She fears that his nature is not ruthless enough to murder Duncan and assure the completion of the witches'

Yet do I fear thy nature, It is too full o th milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way (Act 1 scene 5 lines 16-18) Hie thee hither, That I may pour my spirits in thine ear And chastise with the valour of my tongue All that impedes thee from the golden round
(Act 1 scene 5 lines 25-28)

Lady Macbeth - Act 1 Scene 7

Macbeth is reluctant to commit the murder,

We will proceed no further in this business.

Lady Macbeths angry response clearly refers to the ever present theme of ambition.

Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressd yourself? (Act 1 scene 7 lines 35-36)
She mocks her husbands lack of courage and in a chilling image [of killing her baby] declares she would do anything if she had made a promise to Macbeth. What does this show about her character?

Lady Macbeth Act 1 Scene 7

I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn As you have done to this. (Act 1 Scene 7 lines 56-59)

1. What does this reveal about Lady Macbeths character? 2. Why is this image so shocking? 3. What effect does this speech have on Macbeth?