lady macbeth's influence on macbeth's downfall essay

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis Essay

This essay will provide a character analysis of Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” It will explore her role in the play, her manipulative and ambitious traits, her psychological progression, and her ultimate downfall, reflecting on her impact on the play’s events. Moreover, at PapersOwl, there are additional free essay samples connected to Lady Macbeth.

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In the canon of English literature, “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare stands as a timeless exploration of ambition, morality, and the human psyche. Among the play’s memorable characters, Lady Macbeth captivates audiences with her powerful and complex personality. Her role is pivotal, influencing the narrative’s events and themes. This essay explores Lady Macbeth’s character, shedding light on her influence on the tragic plot of “Macbeth” and her significant contribution to the play’s universal themes.

• 1 Lady Macbeth as the Catalyst for Macbeth’s Ambition
• 2.1 Unsexing and the Desire for Power
• 2.2 Femininity as a Tool for Manipulation
• 3.1 Guilt-induced Madness
• 4.1 A Symbol of Regret and Destruction
• 4.2 Reflection on Lady Macbeth’s End
• 5.1 Conclusion

Lady Macbeth as the Catalyst for Macbeth’s Ambition

Lady Macbeth’s desire for power is unmistakable.

Her ruthless ambition is the spark that sets Macbeth’s actions into motion. Among the most iconic moments in “Macbeth” is Lady Macbeth’s chilling monologue, where she implores the “spirits that tend on mortal thoughts” to make her ruthless. She then employs this newly imbued ruthlessness to manipulate her hesitant husband into committing the unfathomable act of murdering King Duncan. Her words, “screw your courage to the sticking place,” are a chilling testimony to her unyielding influence over her husband’s actions. Through this, we see how Lady Macbeth’s ambition directly influences Macbeth’s actions and leads to both their downfalls. Her insatiable desire for power and control not only instigates the plot’s tragic turn but also contributes significantly to the destructive consequences that follow.

Lady Macbeth and Gender Roles

Lady Macbeth defies the gender norms of her time with her assertive and ambitious nature, traits typically associated with masculinity in the Elizabethan era. In contrast to the quiet, submissive ideal of womanhood, Lady Macbeth presents herself as a dominant and persuasive force capable of orchestrating regicide to achieve her ends.

Unsexing and the Desire for Power

Even more striking is Lady Macbeth’s expressed desire to abandon her feminine traits to achieve her ambitions. She implores spirits to “unsex” her, seeking to cast off what she perceives as the constraints of femininity. This defiance of gender norms underscores Lady Macbeth’s strength and determination, illustrating her character’s unique and complex nature.

Femininity as a Tool for Manipulation

Yet, despite her desire to shed her femininity, Lady Macbeth uses her gender to her advantage. She manipulates the expectations of her womanhood to control Macbeth, oscillating between a nurturing wife and a cunning instigator. This sophisticated use of her femininity adds further depth to her character, showcasing the complexity of gender roles and power dynamics in the play. Lady Macbeth’s character, therefore, stands as a powerful commentary on gender and power, resonating with audiences even today.

Lady Macbeth’s Psychological State

Lady Macbeth’s psychological journey is a captivating aspect of “Macbeth”. She begins as a figure of unyielding ambition, steeled and ruthless. Yet, as the play progresses, the guilt resulting from her actions seeps in, causing a dramatic transformation. The once-determined woman, driving her husband towards regicide, starts crumbling under her conscience’s weight.

Guilt-induced Madness

Her guilt manifests as a haunting madness that erodes her mental stability. A key scene that illustrates this shift is her infamous sleepwalking scene. Haunted by her actions, she imagines her hands stained with King Duncan’s blood and obsessively tries to wash it off, uttering, “Out, damned spot!” This vivid manifestation of her guilt shows how it eats away at her psyche, bringing her to a state of utter torment.

Lady Macbeth’s mental decline presents a poignant exploration of guilt and the human mind. Her tragic downfall isn’t just physical but psychological as well. The character who was once the embodiment of ambition and ruthlessness becomes a symbol of guilt-induced madness, offering a compelling narrative of psychological deterioration. This tragic transformation is a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked ambition and guilt.

The Tragic End of Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth’s demise is one of the most poignant elements of the narrative. It encapsulates the tragedy of a character who once wielded immense power and influence but succumbs to guilt and madness. Her end contrasts starkly with her initial stature, highlighting the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition.

The tragic irony of Lady Macbeth’s death is profound. The same woman who had the audacity to push her husband to commit regicide, driven by an insatiable thirst for power, is reduced to a state of utter desolation. The power she once desired becomes the very cause of her downfall, highlighting the cautionary message of the play.

A Symbol of Regret and Destruction

Lady Macbeth’s death is more than just the conclusion of her life. It symbolizes the dire consequences of moral corruption and boundless ambition. Her guilt, symbolized by the imaginary bloodstains on her hands, never ceases to torment her until her last breath, turning her life into a cautionary tale of regret and destruction.

Reflection on Lady Macbeth’s End

Reflecting on Lady Macbeth’s tragic end, one can’t help but perceive it as a poignant testament to the perils of unchecked ambition and moral degradation. The once fierce and ambitious Lady Macbeth exits the narrative as a shattered version of her former self, a stark reminder of the destructive power of guilt and ambition. Her demise not only adds a layer of tragedy to the play’s plot but also reinforces the themes that define this Shakespearean masterpiece.

Influence on Popular Culture

Lady Macbeth’s legacy extends beyond the pages of the play. Her character has influenced numerous adaptations and reinterpretations in popular culture, contributing to the ongoing relevance and popularity of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” She continues to symbolize unchecked ambition and the tragic consequences it can lead to, ensuring her enduring presence in literary discussions and cultural references.

Lady Macbeth’s character is a captivating study of ambition, power, gender norms, and psychological struggle. From her initial assertiveness and control to her eventual guilt-induced madness, her character remains a crucial driver of the play’s tragic narrative. Her downfall underlines the inherent dangers of unchecked ambition and the lasting psychological impact of guilt. By understanding Lady Macbeth’s character, we can gain a deeper insight into the play’s universal themes, teaching us valuable lessons about ambition, guilt, and the human psyche.

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The Influence of Lady Macbeth to Macbeth Downfall in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Journal of English Culture, Language, Literature and Education

This research intends to depict the influences of Lady Macbeth to Macbeth downfall, and the effect of Lady Macbeth influences to Macbeth. In doing this research, the writer uses objective approach. Objective approach is used because primary source of this research is literary work, the drama Macbeth. However, the analysis of drama Macbeth is based on the writer analysis and interpretation in accordance with the fact and evidences found in drama. By the analyzing the topic, it is found out that, the downfall of Macbeth not only caused by his own weakness but also bad influences of Lady Macbeth as a wife. The analysis shows that Lady Macbeth not only supports her husband to make the prophecy became true, but Lady Macbeth has controlled the mind set of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth influences her husband to did the crime in order the prophecy about Macbeth will be a king of Scotland became true. Finally, Lady Macbeth influences her husband to murder King Duncan. In the end, Macbeth cannot happ...

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This paper aims to describe the ambition of a king’s servant in Shakespeare’s, 'Macbeth'. Because of three witches (astrologer) advice which said that if he wants to be a king later, and to reach his ambition, he must kill his king and his close friend, Banquo. It means that he must use all way to reach his goals. But in the end, he got killed because his deed in reaching for his goals goes through by wrong way. This writing is expected to contribute for further research focused on whom is interested in English literary. This writing also included in descriptive interpretative discourse analyzes. The technique of collecting data is done by using inventory technique. Abstrak: Tulisan ini bertujuan menggambarkan ambisi seorang abdi raja dalam Macbeth karya Shakespeare. Karena ucapan dari tiga penyihir (ahli nujun) yang mengatakan bahwa kelak akan menjadi raja dan untuk mencapainya harus membunuh raja serta teman dekatnya, Banquo, ia harus menggunakan berbagai macam cara agar t...

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Shakespeare's Macbeth has been written to show the evil nature of human being. How a person with good nature suddenly can turn into a wicked one, and that is usually happens because of extreme greed for power and higher position in his milieu. In this play, Shakespeare has exhibited the ambitious mind of Macbeth and lady Macbeth which has been forced them to commit the most vicious deeds towards the king Duncan. Shakespeare in this play didn't only portray the vicious nature of a man who got success in his villainous intentions but also showed that the natural order of things can regain its original shape. In this way my paper will eventually elucidate about Shakespeare's notion of depicting the transformation of a good person into a wicked one. Macbeth and lady Macbeth were two significant characters in this play who has been played the role of evil minded souls.

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Lady Macbeth of Macbeth is one of the most widely discussed characters created by Shakespeare. In the drama, just after Macbeth's disclosure to her as regards the witches' prophecy, she decides to pursue the shortest way to reach her goal within the shortest possible time. She instantly plans to kill King Duncan to enable Macbeth to ascend the Scottish throne. In this process she ultimately plans to have her share in power and prestige with her husband. To prepare herself for the horrible act of the murder, Lady Macbeth completely rejects natural and vital contents and functions of her soul or self. It is the dreadful banishment of self from life. It is tantamount to a manifold distortion of her feminine and human soul. She succeeds in her attempt only to experience the unbearable weight of regret and remorse that finally causes her to punish herself terribly in her own morose conditions which is life's banishment from self, a downfall of colossal magnitude. This article aims at understanding the significance of this issue by studying the functioning of Lady Macbeth's soul from the perspective of philosophy. This will also be done and by juxtaposing her with characters of similar nature from some of the great literary works.

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This article explores the aetiology and the psychogenesis of Macbeth's tyrannical ambitions and the growth of his psychic degradation. Macbeth deigns to be an incorrigible regicide, but his ambition is ultimately overpowered by his conscience. This aporetic conflict is ultimately fatal to his morality and sense of Self. Character analysis informed by psychoanalytic criticism will investigate the protagonist's tormented psyche in its struggle between the ego-syntonic (Persona) and the ego-dystonic (Shadow) leading to neurosis that culminates in psychosis as Macbeth's identity fractures throughout the play. The ontological issue of the Witches is explored in an attempt to explain the role the metamorphic environment plays in Macbeth's psychic atrophy. For this reason, the Witches present us with the conundrum of their being both phenomenal and noumenal. Macbeth's difficulty to distinguish between the real and the phantasmagoric results in a psychotic breakdown. Accordingly, he becomes a mad tyrant seeking to protect his unlawful reign.

IRA International Journal of Education and Multidisciplinary Studies (ISSN 2455-2526)

Kossi Joiny TOWA-SELLO

Alexander Decker

The Role of The Three Witches in Shakespearean Play Macbeth

• Categories: Macbeth William Shakespeare

About this sample

Words: 1567 |

Published: Mar 1, 2019

Words: 1567 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

The essay analyzes the role of the witches in Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and their influence on Macbeth's downfall. It argues that while the witches' prophecies planted the seed of evil in Macbeth's mind, it was ultimately Macbeth's free will that led to his demise. The witches are portrayed as creators of chaos and evil, using their predictions to manipulate Macbeth into pursuing his ambitious desires.

The essay highlights how Macbeth's initial hesitation to act on the prophecies eventually gives way to greed and a lust for power, leading him to commit heinous acts such as the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth's descent into madness and paranoia further illustrates his loss of control. The witches' role in Macbeth's downfall culminates in the presentation of misleading apparitions, which boost Macbeth's overconfidence and ultimately lead him to a disastrous confrontation with Macduff.

The essay suggests that while the witches played a significant role in manipulating Macbeth's thoughts and desires, Macbeth's choices and actions were driven by his own free will. Despite the influence of the supernatural, Macbeth had opportunities to change course but lacked the willpower to do so, ultimately sealing his tragic fate.

Table of contents

Introduction, how are the witches responsible for macbeth's downfall.

• Albright, D. (2005). The witches and the witch: Verdi's Macbeth. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-opera-journal/article/witches-and-the-witch-verdis-macbeth/2704242606646F32616D21B3352E7488 Cambridge Opera Journal, 17(3), 225-252.
• Floyd-Wilson, M. (2006). English Epicures and Scottish Witches. Shakespeare Quarterly, 57(2), 131-161. (https://academic.oup.com/sq/article-abstract/57/2/131/5064746)
• Thompson, E. H. (1993). Macbeth, King James and the Witches. Studii de limbi si literature modern: studii de anglistica si americanisticai. (http://www.faculty.umb.edu/gary_zabel/Courses/Phil%20281b/Philosophy%20of%20Magic/Arcana/Witchcraft%20and%20Grimoires/macbeth.htm)
• Stallybrass, P. (2013). Macbeth and witchcraft. In Focus on Macbeth (pp. 189-209). Routledge. (https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315018300-14/macbeth-witchcraft-peter-stallybrass)

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Macbeth – Downfall of Macbeth

Macbeth’s downfall can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost, his over-ambition led him to commit murder in order to fulfill his own selfish desires. Secondly, Macbeth was heavily influenced by the witches’ prophecies, which planted seeds of doubt and insecurity in his mind. Lastly, Macbeth’s actions caused Banquo, a close friend and confidante, to be murdered, further isolating him from those who could have helped him. In the end, Macbeth’s ambition, paranoia, and isolation led to his downfall.

The downfall of Macbeth was the result of a variety of factors, not just one. It was caused by a mix of three sinister energies: supernatural, external, and internal forces. The three witches are an example of supernatural powers. Lady Macbeth is an external force that pushes Macbeth to commit atrocities. In bringing him to ruin, his own ambition serves as the deciding factor.

The play’s very opening suggests that dark supernatural influences will be active. Three strange sisters are preparing a surprise for Macbeth, which will ultimately cost him his life and save his soul. The predictions of witches have a significant impact in propelling Macbeth toward villainy deeds. By promising him the crown in the near future, witches are the first to unleash Macbeth’s “black and deep desires.”

They deceive Macbeth into believing he was destined to be king by offering him the title of thane of Cawdor and then keeping their promise. When the nearly impossible prediction comes true, Macbeth decides that he, too, should rule. His royal ambitions and desire for power begin to overwhelm his noble side.

He believes that the following are two “truisms” that were told as “filler prologues to the swelling act/Of the imperial theme,” and that they end happily. The evil powers, “winning him with honest trifles to betray in deepest consequence,” persuade him to kill Duncan. They not only persuade Macbeth to consider murdering Duncan; they also lead him to conclude that Banquo’s children will be kings by stating that Banquo’s children would be kings.

Throughout the play, dark supernatural forces deceive Macbeth. In Act IV, the phantoms deceive him into continuing to walk down the bloody road by telling him to be “bloody, bold, and resolute” and that he should “have no fear.” These predictions provide Macbeth hope for more murders so that he has none left for retaining any values or opportunity for remedy.

After the witches inspire Macbeth’s ambition to become king, his wife begins pushing him towards the actual act of murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth believes she understands exactly what her husband wants to be a king, and as a result, she decides that it is essential to force him to do what he would never do on his own – murder Duncan. She has no interest in gaining much for herself or stating that she desires to be queen.

Lady Macbeth has a difficult assignment in front of her: she must persuade her husband to take up the crown. She wants Macbeth to be king; she desires glory for him, not for herself. Lady Macbeth behaves like a mother who forces her silly child to do his homework because she wants him to succeed in life. She never casts doubt on Macbeth’s right to reign and never pays attention to what he thinks or feels, much as a mother would pay no attention to what her son thinks about the ‘inane’ schoolwork.

Her decision not to “proceed any further in this line of business” (I.vii) was not even considered as an option by her. Lady Macbeth uses all available means to persuade her husband to kill Duncan, including his love for her as a tool. She tells him that if he does not murder the king, he does not truly love her. She asks him whether or not he is a man, and informs him that after murdering Duncan, he will be “so much more” one.

Lady Macbeth’s avarice and ambitions for her husband to be king, as well as Macbeth’s greed, jealousy, and ambition were all factors in his downfall. The witches had a significant impact on Macbeth’s fall and ultimate death.

Their prophecies and the temptation of power that they offered Macbeth was too great for him to resist. Lady Macbeth’s greed and aspirations were also a significant contributing factor to Macbeth’s downfall. She was determined that her husband would be king, no matter what the cost. Macbeth’s own greed, jealousy and ambition were perhaps the most important factors in his downfall. He was consumed by his desire for power and would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. In the end, it was his own greed, jealousy and ambition that led to his downfall and ultimately his death.

Macbeth’s fall can be attributed to his thirst for power, Lady Macbeth’s sway over him, and his own insecurities and concerns. Blind ambition, corruption, with Lady Macbeth’s support and Macbeth’s personal doubts all contribute to his ruin.

Macbeth’s ambition is what drives him to murder Duncan and Banquo. He believes that if he can kill them, then he will be able to achieve his goal of becoming king. Macbeth’s ambitions are so strong that they blinded him to the reality of the situation and the potential consequences of his actions.

Lady Macbeth also plays a role in Macbeth’s downfall. She is the one who convinces Macbeth to kill Duncan, even though Macbeth is hesitant about going through with it. Lady Macbeth’s influence leads Macbeth down a path of destruction and death.

Finally, Macbeth’s own insecurities and misgivings contribute to his downfall. Macbeth is plagued by doubt and fear throughout the play. He is afraid of being caught and punished for his crimes. These doubts and fears eventually lead to Macbeth’s downfall as he is unable to cope with the guilt and anxiety that come with being a murderer.

The three key elements that led to Macbeth’s downfall included the witches’ prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s power and persuasion, and lastly, Macbeth’s own selfish desire.

The witches’ prophecies Macbeth that he will be “thane of Cawdor” and eventually “king” are what start Macbeth’s downfall. When Banquo expresses his suspicions about the witches to Macbeth, Macbeth immediately becomes paranoid that Banquo will discover his plans to kill Duncan and take the throne for himself. Macbeth’s insecurity leads him to hire assassins to murder Banquo and his son, which in turn causes Macduff’s family to be killed. These actions cause Macbeth to lose the loyalty of many of his supporters, leading to his eventual downfall.

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Three Major Influences In The Play Macbeth Essay

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There are three major influences in the play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare. The three major influences are the witches, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth but only one of them is responsible for the downfall of Macbeth. At first it would appear that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s marriage is an equal partnership. But as the play continues it is evident that Lady Macbeth was the dominant of the two characters, she could have persuaded Macbeth to do anything if she so wished. And though she does not openly exercise her power over him in public, in private she often uses humiliation and emotional bribery to manipulate Macbeth to execute her will.

Lady Macbeth is not a typical woman of Shakespearean time in this play. In that time a woman would just be at home cooking, cleaning and looking after the children. They wouldn”t have an active role in public life. However Shakespeare has created Lady Macbeth as untraditional. She talks to Macbeth about his problems, insults him, doubts his honor and courage. A woman might have been badly beaten for saying something like it but Shakespeare has made Macbeth tolerate that and it has great effects on him.

Because of Lady Macbeths influence it can be argued that Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. Her actions certainly help him decide on his deeds. Lady Macbeth’s relationship with Macbeth goes deeper then that of the witches. The witches act only as a trigger to start the events in the play and Lady Macbeth herself is the driving force behind Macbeth’s actions. Macbeth takes actions that lead to his downfall. Although he takes the actions, he would not have done this if the witches had not told him that he would be king in Act I Scene III.

The witches introduce Macbeths’s fate. At the beginning of the play they plan to meet with Macbeth and they say Fair is foul, and foul is fair. This line shows foreshadowing; it makes the audience know that something unfair and evil will occur. Macbeth’s goal was not to become king until the witches made him believe it was his destiny. In the play, Macbeths destiny was paved out by the witches. Destiny is not something that can be changed. A person has control of his/her destiny. Macbeth’s destiny was suggested by the witches, he listened to their suggestions and followed them.

In Act I, Scene III, the witches tell Macbeth that he is Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and that he shalt be king hereafter. Immediately after hearing the witches prophecies that he will be king, Macbeth thinks that he must kill the current king to become king himself. If the witches had not met Macbeth, he would not have become king. His ambition grew more after they told him he would become king of Scotland. The witches seem to have been planning on meeting him because they knew he was going to the impossible in order to become king.

If the witches had never met Macbeth, he would remain being Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth would have continued to be loyal and would have not betrayed God, the King, Scotland and himself. Macbeth would not have acted paranoid and see his life as an empty meaningless charade. Macbeths character changes throughout the play. At the start he is a war hero “brave Macbeth” who has defeated the enemy. He becomes greedy and wants power. His doubts come into his mind about whether he should kill Duncan and after that he becomes obsessed with the prophesies and wanting to wipe out anyone that doubts him as king.

At the beginning of the play Macbeth is introduced as the conquering hero who has just defeated the enemy. Also at the end he is shown as a warrior who has died in battle. This is when Macduff kills him. In a way he is sort of a tragic hero because he was a hero at the start but power hungry his greed got the better of him and this was quite tragic. His meeting with the witches make him consider himself as king. Before his encounter and during it he was surprised by their prophecies and intrigued after that.

He begins to ponder the idea of being king while Banquo dismisses the witches. Lady Macbeth influence on him is big, that it has a subconscious effect on Macbeth. When Macbeth begins to ponder and lose faith in the idea of killing the king, she redirects him back onto the path of killing Duncan. I also think Shakespeare was also showing that Macbeth tolerated her and they must have loved each other very much. However that love deteriorated as the play went on because Macbeth didn”t involve her in the murders of Banquo and Macduff’s family.

Before the murder of Duncan Shakespeare makes Macbeth doubt whether he should kill Duncan or not. When he says things like “I am his kinsman” “he hath borne his faculties so meek” and “so clear in his great office” he is saying what a good man Duncan is and how he is meant to be loyal to him. But he says it is only his “vaulting ambition” that is driving him on. Then when he asks Lady Macbeth if Duncan has asked for him ,he says “we will proceed no further” but Lady Macbeth asks Duncan if he is “afeard” or if “art in desire” of his to kill Duncan.

Macbeth at this point must have been swinging either side of if he should kill Duncan. When Lady Macbeth ask him “live a coward in thine own esteem” I think he gets very annoyed this is shown by his reaction “I dare do all that may become a man” and after Lady Macbeth’s has said that she has “given suck” and it would make Macbeth “more than what he is” if he killed Duncan. This is where he changes his mind. Macduff joins forces with Duncan’s son Malcolm and the English to go and defeat Macbeth and give the Scottish throne to the rightful king.

Macbeth was killed at the end of a play by ” a man not born of woman” (Macduff) just as the witches” prophesised. The person who is mostly responsible for Macbeth’s downfall is Macbeth. Banquo, a good man wasn”t influenced or believed in any of the witches but Macbeth however did. There had to be some desire to be king inside him that would make him kill. All the witches and Lady Macbeth did was coach him and make him realise his true potential. Even the witches didn”t do that they just said he would be king and not how he was going to become king. He decided his own course of action.

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Three Major Influences In The Play Macbeth Essay. (2018, Mar 06). Retrieved from https://artscolumbia.org/three-major-influences-play-macbeth-43918/

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