Lady Macbeth, Macbeths Lady-Villain :: Macbeth essays

Macbeths Lady-Villain William Shakespeares moving tragedy Macbeth presents a leading lady who is not the usual sort of woman, but rather a contradiction of the true woman. Let us consider her book of facts in this essay. In Memoranda Remarks on the Character of Lady Macbeth, Sarah Siddons comments on the Ladys cold manner Macbeth announces the Kings approach and she, insensitive it should seem to all the perils which he has encountered in battle, and to all the happiness of his safe return to her, -- for not one kind word of greeting or kudos does she offer, -- is so entirely swallowed up by the horrible design, which has probably been suggested to her by his letters, as to have forgotten both the one and the other. It is very remarkable that Macbeth is browse in expressions of tenderness to his wife, while she never betrays one symptom of affection towards him, till, in the fiery furnace of affliction, her iron heart is melted down to softness. (56) Fanny Kemble in Lady Ma cbeth depicts the character of Macbeths wife Lady Macbeth, even in her sleep, has no qualms of conscience her remorse takes none of the tenderer forms akin to repentance, nor the weaker ones allied to fear, from the pursuit of which the tortured soul, seek where to hide itself, not seldom escapes into the boundless wilderness of madness. A very able article, published some years ago in the National Review, on the character of Lady Macbeth, insists much upon an opinion that she died of remorse, as some palliation of her crimes, and mitigation of our detestation of them. That she died of wickedness would be, I think, a juster verdict. Remorse is consciousness of depravity . . . and that I think Lady Macbeth never had though the unrecognized pressure of her great guilt killed her. (116-17) Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare interpret the character of Lady Macbeth Lady Macbeth is of a finer and more delicate nature. Having fixed her eye upon the end - the attainment for her husband of Duncans crown - she accepts the inevitable means she jumpiness herself for the terrible nights work by artificial stimulants yet she cannot strike the sleeping king who resembles her father. Having sustained her weaker husband, her own strength gives way and in sleep, when her will cannot master her thoughts, she is piteously afflicted by the memory of one stain of blood upon her little hand.