LADY MACBETH AS A DANGEROUS CHARACTER Flashcards
HOW DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT LADY MACBETH AS A DANGEROUS CHARACTER
Manipulation: master manipulator who skillfully exploits her husband’s weaknesses to achieve her own ambitions. challenges Macbeth’s masculinity and questions his courage, effectively pushing him to commit regicide. orchestrates the murder of King Duncan and even goes as far as to plan the details of the crime. manipulation of Macbeth demonstrates her willingness to use any means necessary to achieve her goals, making her a dangerous adversary.
Ruthlessness: exhibits a cold and ruthless demeanor, willing to sacrifice anything and anyone to fulfill her ambitions. She shows no hesitation in urging Macbeth to murder King Duncan, and she even suggests killing Duncan’s guards to cover up the crime. Lady Macbeth’s willingness to resort to violence and deception underscores her dangerous nature and her relentless pursuit of power.
Lack of Empathy: Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth displays a notable lack of empathy or remorse for the consequences of her actions. She is unfazed by the idea of murdering King Duncan and shows no compassion for the innocent lives that are destroyed as a result. Lady Macbeth’s callousness and disregard for human life highlight her dangerous nature and her capacity for cruelty.
LM POWERFUL:MANIPULATION
“Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t
LM POWERFUL:RUTHLESSNESS
“I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out.”
LM POWERFUL:LACK OF EMPATHY
“A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it, then!
“Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t
Lady Macbeth’s quote “Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t” is a prime example of her manipulative nature. In this quote, she advises Macbeth to adopt a façade of innocence and charm while concealing their true intentions, which are sinister and deceitful. By using the imagery of a flower hiding a serpent, Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to present a harmless and trustworthy exterior to others while secretly planning treacherous deeds.
This quote reveals Lady Macbeth’s cunning and her understanding of the power of deception. She recognizes that in order to achieve their ambitions, they must appear harmless and virtuous to those around them, while in reality, they are plotting murder and betrayal. By urging Macbeth to adopt this duplicitous approach, Lady Macbeth demonstrates her ability to manipulate both his actions and public perception, highlighting her dangerous and calculating nature.
“I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out.”
she expresses her willingness to commit unspeakable acts of violence, even against her own child, in order to achieve her goals.
The imagery of “plucking [her] nipple from his boneless gums” and “dashing the brains out” is shocking and brutal, emphasizing Lady Macbeth’s capacity for cruelty and her readiness to sacrifice anything, including maternal instincts, for power. This quote reveals the depths of Lady Macbeth’s depravity and her willingness to go to extreme lengths to achieve her ambitions, making her a truly dangerous character in the play.
By expressing such a horrifying sentiment, Lady Macbeth demonstrates her ruthless determination and her disregard for human life, further solidifying her portrayal as a dangerous and formidable character in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth
“A little water clears us of this deed: How easy is it, then!
dismisses the gravity of the murder of King Duncan, suggesting that washing away the physical evidence of their crime will absolve them of guilt.
By trivializing the act of murder and suggesting that it can be easily erased, Lady Macbeth reveals her callous disregard for human life and her willingness to rationalize her actions in order to avoid facing the consequences. This quote underscores Lady Macbeth’s dangerous mindset, as it demonstrates her ability to justify and minimize the severity of her own immoral behavior.
Additionally, her use of the word “us” implies a shared responsibility with Macbeth, reinforcing her manipulation of him and her desire to maintain their partnership in their pursuit of power. Overall, this quote highlights Lady Macbeth’s dangerous lack of empathy and her willingness to manipulate reality to suit her own ambitions.
