Lady Macbeth's Downfall Analysis
Some say one’s greatest enemy is their own self. This statement rings true in William Shakespeare’s tragedy of character, Macbeth, as many characters’ downfalls occur as a result of their own vices. The most prominent of these flawed people is Lady Macbeth whose excess of success in manipulation is what ultimately causes her downfall.
Unlike all other characters in this play, Lady Macbeth’s downfall begins the moment she enters into the plot. The audience first meets Lady Macbeth when she receives Macbeth’s letter telling her of his new title. Instead of reacting in a proud and supportive manner to her husband’s achievement, as is expected of a loving wife, she selfishly turns her attention to the suddenly increased possibility of them gaining throne of Scotland. She then realizes Macbeth stands in the way of this ambition because he, “is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” (I.v.11) and decides that her best course of action is to, “pour [her] spirits in [Macbeth’s] ear,/ And chastise with the valour of [her] tongue/ All that impedes [him] from the golden round” (I.v.12). For the same reason, she calls upon the spirits to rid her of her womanly weakness, pleading for them,“unsex me here,/ And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full/ Of direst cruelty!” (I.v.12). These impulse decisions start her on the path to her demise, as she cannot foresee the future consequences connected to such rash decisions as these.
Despite the undeniable ramifications of her …show more content…
She is joined in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth as one of many characters who experience their downfall by means of their greatest vices . So, while one’s greatest enemy is their own self, the best way to avoid such an undoing is through continuous and critical self-reflection by oneself and
Unlike all other characters in this play, Lady Macbeth’s downfall begins the moment she enters into the plot. The audience first meets Lady Macbeth when she receives Macbeth’s letter telling her of his new title. Instead of reacting in a proud and supportive manner to her husband’s achievement, as is expected of a loving wife, she selfishly turns her attention to the suddenly increased possibility of them gaining throne of Scotland. She then realizes Macbeth stands in the way of this ambition because he, “is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” (I.v.11) and decides that her best course of action is to, “pour [her] spirits in [Macbeth’s] ear,/ And chastise with the valour of [her] tongue/ All that impedes [him] from the golden round” (I.v.12). For the same reason, she calls upon the spirits to rid her of her womanly weakness, pleading for them,“unsex me here,/ And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full/ Of direst cruelty!” (I.v.12). These impulse decisions start her on the path to her demise, as she cannot foresee the future consequences connected to such rash decisions as these.
Despite the undeniable ramifications of her …show more content…
She is joined in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth as one of many characters who experience their downfall by means of their greatest vices . So, while one’s greatest enemy is their own self, the best way to avoid such an undoing is through continuous and critical self-reflection by oneself and