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Macbeth Essay Plan
How does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as guilty?
Intro:
- Shakespeare presents the deuteragonist LM as guilty through her
abandonment of her feminine nature, ac=ng as a catalyst for her
declining masculine façade and her full-blown psychosis later on.
- CONTEXT: perhaps Shakespeare presents LM as a juxtaposi=on to the
archetypal Jacobean woman to reinforce gender stereotypes and roles
while also exploi=ng their fear of religious resistance by associa=ng
women who don’t conform to societal rules with the supernatural.
- However perhaps to a modern audience, LM is an early feminist figure
who does not let societal expecta=on hinder her ambi=on.
Para 1:
- In 1.5, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as guilty through the
refuta=on of her feminine iden=ty.
- ‘Come you spirits,….unsex me here’
- LANGUAGE ANALYSIS: The use of the impera=ve verb ‘come’ establishes
a domina=ng and controlling tone from the very beginning.
- ALTERNATIVELY: Perhaps it establishes a pleading tone, emphasising Lady
Macbeths despera=on to usurp societal expecta=ons and achieve power.
- The use of the verb ‘unsex’ depicts how LM sees her femininity, her
iden=ty as an obstacle.
Thus, her lack of ownership over her iden=ty sets the founda=on for her
full blown psychosis later on.
- This is further reinforced by ‘take my milk for gall’
- LANGUAGE ANALYSIS: Shakespeare uses imagery of fer=lity, to establish
the link between femininity and guilt.
- The use of the noun ‘milk’ which has nurturing and pure connota=ons is
juxtaposed by ‘gall’ which was a deadly poison and has destruc=ve
connota=ons spotlights perhaps LM’s inability to feel guilt from the very
start.
- ALTERNATIVELY: perhaps Shakespeare is using this quote to foreshadow
her fragile state of mind, this recurring mo=f of repressed femininity will
eventually lead to her psychosis.
- Perhaps Shakespeare associates’ guilt with femininity, thus making it a
weakness.
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