ASSIGNMENT 101 Shattering Shadows: Unveiling Lady Macbeth through a feminist Lens

 101: Shattering Shadows: Unveiling Lady Macbeth through a feminist Lens

Hello everyone This blog is part of an assignment for the paper 101 Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods Sem. 1, 2023.

# PERSONAL INFORMATION:-

NAME:- Hardi Vhora

BATCH:- M.A. Sem 1 (2023-2025)

ENROLLMENT NO:- 5108230032

PAPER NO. :- 101

PAPER NAME:- Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods

PAPER CODE:- 22392

e-mail:- hardivhora751@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 09

# TABLE OF CONTENT:-

Personal information

Abstract

Keywords

Introduction of Author

Introduction 

Lady Macbeth's Ambition

Manipulation and influence

Challenge to Patriarchy

Psychological Unravelling

Isolation and Loneliness

Macbeth Through a Feminist Lens

Conclusion

References

# ABSTRACT:-

This assignment delves into the complex character of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's tragedy, examining the nuanced interplay of her ambition, manipulation, and influence within a patriarchal society. It scrutinises how her challenge to traditional gender roles leads to a psychological unravelling, exploring the symbolism of sleeplessness as a manifestation of guilt and isolation. Additionally, the paper offers a feminist critique of the tragedy, questioning the portrayal of female characters, and proposes an alternative feminist perspective that seeks to redefine their roles in the narrative. Through a multifaceted analysis, this assignment aims to unravel the layers of Lady Macbeth's character, offering a fresh lens on her journey within the constraints of Shakespearean tragedy.

# KEYWORDS:-

Lady Macbeth

Shakespearean tragedy

Ambition

Patriarchal society

Gender roles

Psychological unravelling

Guilt

Isolation

Symbolism

Female character

Redefining roles

Narrative analysis

Fresh lens

Shakespearean constraints

# INTRODUCTION OF AUTHOR:-

William Shakespeare (baptized April 26, 1564, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England—died April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon) English poet, dramatist, and actor often called the English national poet and considered by many to be the greatest dramatist of all time.

Shakespeare occupies a position unique in world literature. Other poets, such as Homer and Dante, and novelists, such as Leo Tolstoy and Charles Dickens, have transcended national barriers, but no writer’s living reputation can compare to that of Shakespeare, whose plays, written in the late 16th and early 17th centuries for a small repertory theatre, are now performed and read more often and in more countries than ever before. The prophecy of his great contemporary, the poet and dramatist Ben Jonson, that Shakespeare “was not of an age, but for all time,” has been fulfilled.

∆ Also Known As:- 

Swan of Avon

 Bard of Avon 

 William Shakespeare

∆ Movement / Style :- Jacobean age

∆ NOTABLE WORKS:-

• “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” 
•  “All’s Well That Ends Well” 
• “Antony and Cleopatra”
• “As You Like It” 
• “Coriolanus” 
• “Cymbeline”
•  First Folio 
•  “Hamlet” 
•  “Henry IV, Part 1” 
• “Henry IV, Part 2” 
• “Henry V” 
• “Henry VI, Part 1” 
• “Henry VI, Part 2” 
• “Henry VI, Part 3” 
• “Henry VIII” 
• “Julius Caesar” 
• “King John” 
• “King Lear” 
• “Love’s Labour’s Lost” 
• “Macbeth” 
• “Measure for Measure” 
• “Much Ado About Nothing” 
• “Othello” 
• “Pericles” 
• “Richard III” 
• “The Comedy of Errors” 
• “The Merchant of Venice” 
• “The Merry Wives of Windsor” 
•  “The Taming of the Shrew” 
• “The Tempest” 
• “Timon of Athens”

# INTRODUCTION :-

In the intricate tapestry of Shakespeare's tragedy, the character of Lady Macbeth emerges as a captivating study, navigating the complex terrain of ambition, manipulation, and influence within the confines of a patriarchal society. This assignment delves deep into the nuances of her character, unravelling the threads that weave together her challenge to traditional gender roles.A keen scrutiny is applied to the symbolism of sleeplessness, a poignant manifestation of guilt and isolation in her psychological unravelling. Beyond this, the paper extends a feminist critique, questioning the portrayal of female characters and proposing an alternative perspective that seeks to redefine their roles within the narrative. Through a multifaceted analysis, this endeavour aims to peel back the layers of Lady Macbeth's character, offering a fresh lens on her journey within the rigid constraints of Shakespearean tragedy.

# LADY MACBETH'S AMBITION:-

Every woman is by nature more ambitious than man; but she is ambitious only vicariously i.e. on behalf of 

her husband if she is married; otherwise a woman is ambitious only of possessing lots of fine clothes and 

ornaments, and above all, she is ambitious of being known as the prettiest woman in the world-a Cleopatra or a 

Helen. Lady Macbeth, however, had no such ambition; as a matter of fact, she had no other ambition than being the 

Queen of Scotland particularly when her husband wrote to her about the predictions of the Weird Sisters and how 

two of the predictions had been already fulfilled, and how the greatest prediction about Macbeth's kingship was 

yet to be fulfilled. 

 > These are the words of Macbeth to his wife on this particular occasion:

'Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hailed me " Thane of 

Cawdor' ; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time, with 

'Hail, king that shalt be!' This have I thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou 

mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is promised there. Lay it to thy heart, 

and farewell!" (Act1, Scene5, Lines 5-10)

According to Langis (2012), it is the words of her husband which actually made Lady Macbeth ambitious just 

as part-fulfilment of the predictions or the Witches made Macbeth ambitious; otherwise, neither Lady Macbeth

nor Macbeth would have dreamt of being the queen or the king of Scotland. Here are the words of Lady Macbeth in 

response to the great news conveyed to her by the messenger of Macbeth:

"Hie thee hither, -

That I may pour my spirits in thine ear;

And chastise with the valour of my tongue

All that impedes thee from the golden round,

Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem

To have thee drowned withal. (Act one, Scene5, Lines 21-26)

When a woman becomes ambitious, she becomes far more frantic than a man. She actually loses the balance 

of her mind. Lady Macbeth's words ,when she receives the message of king Duncan's proposed visit to her castle 

and staying as her guest for sometimes; also how daringly she plans to be the murderer herself of Duncan without 

being advised by her husband to do so; again how she invokes the spirit of hell to unsex her, to fill in all her veins 

with nothing but cruelty ; and last of all to shut out the sun and the moon and the stars from seeing the terrible 

deed of murder she is going to commit upon King Duncan who is going to be her guest, are obvious at the most 

psychological moment :

"Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood;

Stop up the access and passage to remorse .

That no compunctious visitings of nature

Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,

And take my milk for gall, your murdering ministers,

Wherever in your sightless substances

You wait on nature’s mischief! Come, thick night ,

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,

That my keen knife sees not the wound it makes,

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark,

To cry, "Hold, hold!" (Act one, scene 5, lines 36-50)

# Manipulation and Influence:-

Lady Macbeth undergoes a profound transformation in Shakespeare's "Macbeth," shaped significantly by manipulation and influence. Initially portrayed as ambitious and ruthless, her character is manipulated by the supernatural prophecies and the persuasive prowess of her husband. The witches' prophecy fuels her desire for power, planting the seeds of manipulation that lead her to goad Macbeth into committing regicide. Her influence on him is undeniable, as she challenges his masculinity and questions his resolve, manipulating his sense of honour and ambition.

Lady Macbeth's manipulation extends beyond her husband; she skillfully employs psychological tactics to manipulate others. Her ability to mask her true intentions is evident in her interactions with Duncan, where she feigns hospitality while harbouring sinister plans. This manipulation is a testament to her understanding of societal expectations and her willingness to exploit them to achieve her ambitions.

As the play progresses, the consequences of Lady Macbeth's manipulative actions become evident. Her descent into guilt and madness reflects the psychological toll of manipulating others for personal gain. The haunting imagery of her sleepwalking and obsessive hand washing underscores the internal conflict between her ruthless ambition and the moral consequences of her actions.

Lady Macbeth's character serves as a cautionary tale about the corrosive nature of unchecked ambition and the repercussions of using manipulation as a means to an end. Her ultimate demise highlights the fragility of a psyche burdened by the weight of deceit and manipulation. In essence, Lady Macbeth's character arc is a nuanced exploration of the intricate interplay between ambition, manipulation, and the human psyche in the context of power and societal expectations.

# Challenge to Patriarchy:-

Lady Macbeth believes that in order to commit evil acts and convince her husband to 

kill Duncan, it necessitates she be stripped of everything that makes her a woman, 

both physically and psychologically. She calls unto evil spirits to ‘unsex’ her, make 

her blood thick and take her breast milk in exchange for gall. The extract is produced 

below:

“Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, 

And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

Of direst cruelty! make thick my blood; 

Stop up the access and passage to remorse, 

That no compunctious visitings of nature

Shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between

The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts, 

And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers, 

Wherever in your sightless substances

You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night, 

And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, 

That my keen knife see not the wound it makes, 

Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, 

To cry 'Hold, hold!'” (1.5.35-50)

What is indicated here is the notion that being a woman, especially a woman with the 

capacity to birth, raise and nurture children, impedes on her ability to commit evil. To 

Lady Macbeth, being a woman is synonymous with kindness and compassion, while 

she associates masculinity, with ambition, bravery and cruelty; ultimately these are 

all of the traits that she needs in order to convince her husband to kill the king. 

Lady Macbeth even goes as far as to suggest that Macbeth himself is “too full o’ the 

milk of human kindness” (1.5.13) to kill the king, implying that Macbeth is like a 

woman, linking this to the image of breast milk , and thus may find it challenging to 

wield a king’s power as a result. Lady Macbeth then cleverly manipulates her 

husband into killing the king by suggesting that his kindness is a character trait more 

commonly associated with women. She frames Macbeth's "kindness" as a 

weakness, as she spurs him on to murder the king: "When you durst do it, then you were a man" (1.7.48). In other words, when Macbeth kills King Duncan, he will be 

considered a real ‘man’ (Ramsey, 1973).

It can be argued that Lady Macbeth believes that her husband is “too kind” and 

cowardly to commit the murder of King Duncan himself, which is why she feels the 

need to take matters into her own hands, she calls on evil spirits to “unsex her”, and 

eradicate that which she believes makes her a woman in order to commit the murder 

herself. Although this suggests that Lady Macbeth has internalised patriarchal 

norms, she can instead be seen to find ways of destabilising her culturally defined 

role as a woman and to use it to her own advantage. According to Das (2012), “[h]er 

husband’s weakness is not only shameful in Lady Macbeth’s eyes; his weakness is 

also as unnatural as her strength. Such a reversal carries with it significant social 

ramifications” (p. 47).

Ultimately, Lady Macbeth proposes that, being male, or being like a male is still 

possible for her even in her physical female body. Additionally, she also suggests 

that action and performance constitute gender and may be a way to access power, 

an idea which can be read through Judith Butler’s feminist lens of gender performativity (1990). For this reason, Lady Macbeth destabilises the idea that gender is located solely in the physical and biological spheres, and instead, links gender to performance and psychology. Essentially, Lady Macbeth is performing a deconstruction and critically interrogating gender while using it to her own advantage. This can be recognised as a progressive act, which can be read as a way of deconstructing of gender norms and hierarchies of gender that would place 

women as submissive and as secondary to men.

# PSYCHOLOGICAL UNRAVELLING:-

Lady Macbeth's psychological unravelling is a complex journey within Shakespeare's "Macbeth." Initially presented as a strong and ambitious woman, her descent into madness reveals the profound impact of guilt and the consequences of manipulating one's morality. As she grapples with the weight of her involvement in Duncan's murder, her once steely resolve crumbles.

The sleepwalking scene, a poignant manifestation of her internal torment, exposes her subconscious guilt. Her incessant attempts to cleanse her hands of imaginary blood reflect the indelible stain on her conscience. The famous line "Out, damned spot!" captures the futility of her efforts to rid herself of the moral impurity she perceives.

Lady Macbeth's unravelling is not just a consequence of guilt but also an exploration of the societal expectations placed on women. Her initial strength, when urging Macbeth to "unsex" her, transforms into vulnerability, challenging traditional gender roles. Her descent into madness serves as a commentary on the psychological toll of defying societal norms.

Ultimately, Lady Macbeth's psychological unravelling is a tragic exploration of the human psyche under the weight of guilt, ambition, and societal expectations. It adds depth to her character and contributes to the overall tragic arc of "Macbeth."

# ISOLATION AND LONELINESS:-

Lady Macbeth's character in Shakespeare's "Macbeth" embodies the profound impact of isolation and loneliness. Initially driven by ambition, her soliloquies reveal the toll this pursuit takes on her mental and emotional well-being. As Macbeth becomes consumed by power, Lady Macbeth finds herself isolated from her husband, who becomes increasingly distant. This isolation intensifies her internal struggles, leading to a profound loneliness that manifests in her sleepwalking scenes.

Lady Macbeth's isolation stems from her complicity in Macbeth's actions and the resulting guilt. The burden of their shared secrets distances her from others, creating a psychological isolation that exacerbates her descent into madness. This sense of loneliness is palpable in her desperate attempts to wash away the metaphorical bloodstains—an outward manifestation of the internal torment she faces. 

The absence of genuine companionship contributes to Lady Macbeth's emotional isolation. Unlike Macbeth, who interacts with other characters, Lady Macbeth lacks confidantes, exacerbating her solitude. Her loneliness becomes a pivotal element in understanding her unravelling mental state, ultimately leading to her tragic demise.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth's character reflects the profound consequences of isolation and loneliness. Her descent into madness underscores the detrimental effects of being cut off from meaningful connections, making her a poignant example of the human cost of unchecked ambition and the isolation it can breed.

# MACBETH THROUGH A FEMINIST LENS:-

While there are many ways this play can be read, teachers should introduce innovative ways that Shakespeare’s Macbeth can be made relevant to contemporary South African society. Teaching Macbeth through a feminist lens encourages critical thought, opens pathways for other similar issues of inequality to be brought to light, allows the reader to consider power relations and stereotypes,and consider why certain characters are portrayed in certain ways, and whether these portrayals are still relevant today. However, teaching established Macbeth themes such as: ‘good’ vs ‘evil’ and ‘natural’ vs ‘unnatural’ limits the amount of productive discussion that can be had around these themes. 

In some literature with moralistic dimensions, characters who deviate from the norm are often negatively portrayed, which is what happens when individuals transgress boundaries which have been put in place to preserve a particular ideology. In the case of Macbeth, this ideology is patriarchy. When Lady Macbeth takes control, and devises to kill the king, she deviates from gender norms that assume that only men take charge, and only men are violent and ambitious. 

The assumption seems to be that women are far too weak and feeble, they cannot possibly “give life” and be strong enough to take it away as well (Higgins, 2016). This is why the play seems to construct Lady Macbeth’s character as unnatural. Lady Macbeth threatens the stability of the patriarchal ideology, and her transgressive gender performance is part of the chaos Shakespeare works to “solve”. 

Upon doing a Critical Discourse Analysis however, one can maintain that the literature works to serve the interest of the patriarchal ideology. Naturally this serves 

the interests of Macbeth (to an extent), Banquo and Duncan. Banquo is the embodiment of all that Macbeth can never be, he is equally ambitious, but not to the point of betrayal or bloodshed, and King Duncan is the perfect example of a just and noble ruler, which is why his death indicates and symbolises the destruction of order and the commencement of chaos. These men are given dominance in the text, and in traditional readings were seen to drive the action of the plot. 

Although Macbeth commits treason and murders both Duncan and Banquo, the reader might be inclined to blame Lady Macbeth for spurring him on to kill Duncan in the first place, as it was the first murder- which fuelled the rest. In this way, one can see how text prompts the reader, or the audience, to side with particular characters. 

Characters who embody the patriarchal ideology, are portrayed as noble and respectable, while those who challenge it are viewed as evil and abnormal, as is seen with Lady Macbeth and the Three Witches. The reader might be persuaded by the text to view Macbeth in positive terms, as a tragic hero and to demonise Lady Macbeth as she is understood to have influenced Macbeth into his evil acts. Lady Macbeth did not commit murder, but readers are still often led to look more favourably on her male counterpart (Muslin, 1998). 

However, when reading the text through an African feminist lens, there are aspects of Lady Macbeth’s character which do not solely frame her as “evil”, against a “natural order” or as “mad”. These discourses, while not necessarily valorising Lady Macbeth, allow for more nuance in her character and could serve to subvert the patriarchal norms which seem central to the text. Through critical reading strategies,and through reframing the character and the witches in a more sympathetic lens, the reproduction of patriarchal ideas can be challenged.

# CONCLUSION:-

In conclusion we can say that Lady Macbeth's multifaceted character, driven by unbridled ambition and adept manipulation, challenges patriarchal norms in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Her psychological unravelling and the symbolism of sleeplessness vividly depict the toll of ruthless ambition. The thematic undercurrents of isolation and loneliness further emphasise the high cost of defying societal expectations. A feminist critique of this tragedy unveils the oppressive structures women contend with, while alternative feminist perspectives explore avenues for empowerment within the complex narrative, highlighting the nuanced exploration of gender dynamics in Shakespeare's enduring work.

# REFERENCES:-

Shakespeare, William. “William Shakespeare Facts.” Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/facts/William-Shakespeare. Accessed 1 December 2023.

“\/.” YouTube, 16 June 2023, https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=lady+macbeth%27s+ambition&oq=lady+Macbeth%27s+amb#d=gs_qabs&t=1701083338269&u=%23p%3DuN5HTYWzl-EJ. Accessed 1 December 2023.

“\/.” YouTube, 16 June 2023, https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=challenge+to+patriarchy+in+Macbeth&oq=#d=gs_qabs&t=1701087932619&u=%23p%3DMXSp8pFe1i8J. Accessed 1 December 2023.