Discuss the role of women in Macbeth. To what extent are women portrayed as manipulative and wicked?

As good and virtuous? How do the women in the play compare with one another? How do they affect Macbeth? The women in Shakespeares Macbeth have an extremely important role, being portrayed in many different ways. Women are largely portrayed as manipulative and wicked, such as in the characters of Lady Macbeth and the witches. These characters are contrasted in the good and virtuous nature of Lady Macduffs character. The different portrayals of women emphasise each characters characteristics and personality, expressing to the audience how they affect Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is portrayed as manipulative and wicked, seen in her control of Macbeth to get what she desires. When she discovers she could become Queen, an instant desire builds in her to claim her throne. Your hand, you tongue; look like thinnocent flower, but be the serpent undert. (1.5.63-64) The imagery in Lady Macbeths words, demonstrates her clear opinion to both the responder and her audience, Macbeth. Her wickedness is shown in her will for her husband act as a serpent, an image associated with evil and unpleasantness. This is contrasted by how Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to appear; as an innocent flower. The image of a flower is already innocent, so in using this word to describe a flower, the idea of innocence is emphasised. Lady Macbeths manipulative nature is seen in her control of her husband, both in his actions and his appearance. The strong and clear ideas she expresses to Macbeth are seen to have an influence on his actions throughout the play. Lady Macbeth uses imperative language, ensuring she gets what she wants from the people around her, seen particularly in her relationship with her husband. Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire? (1.7.39-41) Lady Macbeth speaks in a very decisive tone, encouraging the audience and Macbeth to share her ideas. The manner in which she speaks comes across as harsh and strict, strongly encouraging Macbeth to do as she desires. She is playing at thoughts she has already created in him, and placing more ideas in his mind with that. Lady Macbeth is seen to manipulate her husband with her wicked ideas of how to get what she wants. The witches are created as strange and supernatural creatures, with a hidden agenda revealed to the audience through the development of the plot. Macbeth puts his trust in them as their prophecies come true for him, allowing himself to be manipulated by their dark plotting. Dramatic irony is created in the audiences understanding of what is not revealed to Macbeth, who enters after the witches chant; something wicked this way comes, open locks, whoever knocks. (4.1.4546) This informs the audience of the impending doom of which Macbeth had remained oblivious. With this knowledge the audience connects with his character, guessing at events to follow. They are drawn in to Macbeths story, eager for him to learn what they have witnessed. The evil nature of what is being said by the witches reflects their characters and values, not being seen in a positive light by anyone other than Macbeth. The witches repeat a message which is prominent throughout the play and representative of its cyclical nature. Fair is foul and foul is fair. (1.1.12) This is representative of their mysterious actions and words throughout the play. It confuses the audience, placing together two ideas which are seen as opposite, insisting they are the same. In saying this the witches are suggesting that behind everything that appears fair there is foul and being what appears foul there is fair. Coming from the characters of the witches, this phrase encourages the audience to apply it to them. It explores their confusing nature, where not everything is revealed or as it seems and they off what enough to come across as fair without revealing their foul side to

Macbeth. The witches are seen as manipulative and wicked, hooking Macbeth into their prophecies without revealing their foul nature to him. Through this, they are seen to affect his actions, making him aware of his opportunity to become King. The witches are seen as similarly dark-willed characters to Lady Macbeth, with their intentions to manipulate and control him, for reasons of their own. A character foil of Lady Macbeth is seen in Lady Macduff, who demonstrates honourable characteristics, contrasting that of both the witches and Lady Macbeth. The differences between Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff are emphasised due to their similarities which force a comparison between the two characters. Her kind nature is seen in her actions and conversations, and the morals she imparts onto her son. As he repeats back to Lady Macduff after her having defined the term traitor, then the liars and swearers are fools for their are liars and swearers enough to beat the honest men and hang them up. (4.2.55-56) Repetition of the words liars and swearers reinforces the idea she has defined and how she has shared this with her son. She uses negative words which communicate her disapproval of those who are traitors to the audience. This reveals that Lady Macbeth is opposed to those who do wrong, portraying her as good and virtuous. Lady Macbeth makes a biblical allusion, Now God help thee, poor monkey, but how will thou do for a father? (4.2.57-58) The reference to God here shows her religious beliefs, hinting at the respectable morals and values often linked with such beliefs. Her ability to use the work God in this context represents her clear conscience as opposed Macbeths guilty conscience which prevented him from referring to God earlier in the play. For religious responders, this creates a connection with the play, building an understanding of Lady Macduffs character. Lady Macduff does not appear in the play for long, and is not seen to have an influence on Macbeth, though her character contrasts those who do. The similarities between Lady Macduff and Lady Macbeth including their roles in society urge the responder to compare the two characters. In this, the differences will highlight Lady Macduffs good and virtuous nature, particularly in comparison with the wicked and manipulative Lady Macbeth. In Shakespeares Macbeth, the women are seen to have a crucial role in the play. The manipulative and wicked characters of Lady Macbeth and the witches are seen to influence Macbeths decisions and actions to different extents throughout the play. Lady Macduff represents a good and virtuous nature in women, which contrasts those of other female characters. The similarities and differences between the ways in which women are portrayed in Macbeth allow the audience to explore different aspects of the characters personalities and actions in relation to their affects on the character of Macbeth.