Jentsch, Reid

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Macbeth final
Unsex me here: The Struggle between Man and Woman, and the never ending battle
for power In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth
During the 1500s England, in much need of a social reprieve from the plague, looked to
theater to relieve the stress of the daily struggle. Many poets rose to prominence during this time
in England. The Tragedy of Macbeth, a Shakespearean creation, exemplifies Shakespeare's
utilization of current events, such as gender role definitions, occurring during his time period.
Shakespeare contrasted the strength and power of men with the weakness of women throughout
The Tragedy of Macbeth. In the struggle between man and women in Shakespeare's, The Tragedy
of Macbeth, William Shakespeare exemplifies Lady Macbeth's ability to sway Macbeths
decisions supporting Shakespeares juxtaposition of gender stereotypes and power; ultimately,
Shakespeare strives to illustrate Macbeths need to prove his masculinity worthiness of her
respect destroys his morals and leads to betrayal, murder, and eventually his own downfall.
Through Lady Macbeths dominative characteristics in the play, she manipulates her
husband Macbeth into murdering Duncan and seizing power. Shakespeare's perversion of power
shows his purpose of reversing his time periods socially recognized roles. After Lady Macbeth
receives a letter from her husband she commands the supernatural spirits to enable her to gain
what she wants resulting in her inherent evil. She decries her femininity to the supernatural
spirits, come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from crown to
the toe topful of direst cruelty (1.5.47-50). Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as
dominant and ambitious through her driven demands towards the supernatural spirits. She asks
the spirits to deny her of mortal thoughts and this also allows Lady Macbeth to contain no flaws.

Lady Macbeths attitude, a commanding one, seeks to receive the most cruel traits from the
supernatural to be courageous yet ironically she ends up committing suicide, which proves she
possesses the same weakness she accuses her husband of having. Lady Macbeth constructs many
conflicts in order to be victorious in conflicts and control her husband by receiving extreme hate
and evil from the spirits. She wants to receive the most evil and ruthlessness so she may enable
her husband to kill for her. Lady Macbeths exaggerated diction, quite strong and confident for
the Shakespearean audiences, exemplifies her yearning to become filled with hate and evil.
These characteristics allow her to manipulate her husband into doing her bidding for her. Lady
Macbeth reveals her intentions and desires to control the kingdom. She illustrates her plans by
stating, Who dares receive other, as we shall make our griefs and clamour roar upon his death
(1.7.89-90). Shakespeare uses foreshadowing to reveal Lady Macbeths successful plot to
overthrow King Duncan. Shakespeare purposefully utilizes foreshadowing to shock his audience
by having a woman want to contain so much evil and take on roles reserved for men.
Shakespeare wants his audience to feel bad for Macbeth because he becomes completely
controlled by his evil wife. Lady Macbeths diction and actions show Shakespeare's intended
purpose of creating conflicts. Lady Macbeth uses her determination to manipulate her husband
into carrying out her plan. Lady Macbeth's desire for power reveals itself through her successful
and complex actions to claim the throne. Macbeth completed killing Duncan and left in a panic,
while Lady Macbeth becomes angered due to the lack composure expressed by Macbeth. She
expresses her desire to gain power by screaming, Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers. The
sleeping and the dead are but as pictures./Tis the eye of childhood, the fears a painted devil
(1.6.63-68). The theme of Lady Macbeths ruthlessness shapes the plot of the play and helps
characterize Lady Macbeth's evil thoughts. Lady Macbeth utilizes her characteristics to gain

power through Duncans murder. Lady Macbeth ultimately changes Macbeth morals by
challenging Macbeths masculinity. Lady Macbeth utilizes her evil spirit to completely change
Macbeth and make him act terrible ways. Lady Macbeth believes that the pictures are nothing
that can hurt her but in reality she become haunted by the imaginary blood that stains her hands.
Lady Macbeth's constant prying of Macbeth leads to Macbeth killing King Duncan and
becoming greedy, ultimately forming his downfall. Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth when he
doubts her, yet I do fear thy nature (1.5.31.16). Lady Macbeth setting her husband up to kill
Duncan because she knows Macbeth shows weakness due to loyalty. Macbeths unstoppable
need to prove himself ultimately leads him to killing his beloved King.Lady Macbeth prepares
her weak husband to face the king when she commands,Look like the innocent flower-But be
the serpent under't (1.5.76-78). Lady Macbeth exemplifies the use of a metaphor by comparing
Macbeth to a snake under a flower. The symbolic snake imagery shows Lady Macbeth tries to
instill evil in her husband so he may kill the king . Shakespeare shows the audience that Macbeth
puts on a facade in order to not alarm Duncan. Lady Macbeth sets the stage for King Duncans
murder, by preparing the Kings guards to die. Shakespeare utilizes foreshadowing when Lady
Macbeth exalts, Come on, gentle my lord, Sleek oer your rugged looks/ Be bright and
jovial/Among your guests tonight (3.2.30-32). Lady Macbeth uses symbolism when she states
Be bright and jovial because due to previous foreshadowing, the audience knows of the nights
violent intentions. This metamorphosis in Macbeths character leads to Macbeth becoming power
hungry and greedy. Macbeths greed acts to initiate his own downfall.
Henceforth, In William Shakespeare's, The Tragedy of Macbeth, the juxtaposition of
gender stereotypes and power, prevalent themes found within Shakespeare's The Tragedy of
Macbeth, illustrate Lady Macbeth's ability to manipulate Macbeth, and his hunger to prove

himself; ultimately Shakespeare illustrates Macbeth's downfall, after Lady Macbeth defies
gender roles and directs Macbeth's decisions and mindset. Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeths
urging her husband to ignore the gender roles and listen to her because she knows how to steal
the power from Duncan. Lady Macbeth usurps power in order to control her husband, through
this control of her husband she commands him to kill the king. Macbeth, controlled by his wife
becomes power hungry after he kills King Duncan. After the death of Duncan, Macbeths greed
and lust for power engage his downfall.