Lord And Lady Macbeth Purge The Guilt example essay topic

Lady Macbeth is perhaps one of the most influential characters in Shakespeare's "Macbeth". She serves as the driving force behind Macbeth's actions and ultimately leads him down a path of treachery and greed. At first, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a cold and heartless woman, yet as the story progresses it becomes obvious that her personality undergoes a drastic change. After Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth feels no remorse for the part she played in his death. But as Macbeth becomes less dependent on her, she loses control and finally succumbs to her own guilty conscience. A person's character can gradually fall apart due to their emotions, the influence of others, and the choices that they make.

A person's feelings can become so strong that they completely take all sense and reason. A good example is Lady Macbeth's decline to a state of insanity, which was brought on by tremendous guilt. After the murder of Duncan, Lady Macbeth reassures her husband by saying, "A little water clears us of this deed". (Act 2, Scene 2) This action is symbolic because Duncan's guilt represents their guilt, and through the act of washing the blood from their hands, Lord and Lady Macbeth purge the guilt from within themselves. On the contrary, Lady Macbeth later reveals that the power they had once sought after and attained was not as grand as it seemed at first. This shows her guilt making its way up to the surface: 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. (Act 3, Scene 2) Lady Macbeth gradually becomes so overwhelmed by the guilt that these feelings cross over into her subconscious. She begins to walk in her sleep as if reliving the night of Duncan's murder. The doctor who was brought in to look after her claims that "unnatural minds do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds to their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets". (Act 5, Scene 1) This means that Lady Macbeth is not afflicted with a disease, but rather, troubled in the mind.

Therefore, he could do nothing to help her. Lady Macbeth went mad because she was unable to handle her guilt. Such feelings can become so hard for people to deal with that they completely loose themselves in the process. A person's character can also be affected by the people around them.

This is demonstrated through the relationship between Lord and Lady Macbeth. At first, Macbeth considers his wife as an equal. In fact, he refers to her as his "dearest partner in greatness" (Act 1, Scene 5) in his letter about the witches' and their prophecies. Lady Macbeth is used to saying what she wants to say, which is uncharacteristic of the women in her time.

Thus, she has come to develop a strong personality. However, things change after Macbeth becomes king. When Lady Macbeth asks him about Banque, Macbeth simply tells her to "be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed". (Act 3, Scene 2) This means that Macbeth no longer feels the need to let her know what The choices that people make can have an affect on the way they are. Take, for example, Lady Macbeth's decision to associate with the powers of darkness. When she receives news from Macbeth about the withes and their prophecies, Lady Macbeth calls upon the spirits to fill her with cruelty, for she knew that her husband lacked the courage to kill Duncan.

Therefore, she would have to do it herself: Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here And fill me from crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty! (Act 1, Scene 5) In doing so, Lady Macbeth does away with whatever kindness she has and completely devotes herself to evil. Her desire for power arose victorious over virtue and morality. Lady Macbeth's cruelty is also demonstrated when she says, "I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out".

(Act 1, Scene 7) In this scene, Lady Macbeth tries to convince her husband to kill Duncan by saying that she would kill her own child if she were called upon to do it. Ironically, her attitude towards evil drastically changes after Macbeth becomes king. When her guilty conscience takes over, she no longer dwells in darkness but has come to fear it. In fact, as the gentlewoman states, "she has light by her continually; 'tis her command".

(Act 5, Scene 1) Lady Macbeth chose to take on evil, believing that she could handle it. However, the power was much to strong for her to control, and she ended up becoming corrupted by it. Based on one decision that she made, Lady Macbeth went from being a woman who knew no fear, to a child who trembled at the sight of her own shadow. Lady Macbeth is a fine example of how easily people are affected by their emotions, the influence of others, and the choices that they make.

Throughout the course of the play, she changed from a woman who showed no weakness to the complete opposite of that..