So far in the play we percieve Macbeth as a strong, brutal warrior. After the wyrd sisters deliver the prophecy that Macbeth will become king, he starts to contemplate how this would occur. Automatically he jumps to the conclusion that he has to murder the king. Although in this scence we see a more devious side to Macbeth his wife seems to doubt his ability to follow through. This begins the characterization of Lafy Macbeth. Through her reaction to Macbeth's letter you can begin to see her role in the play. She first wants to meet with him face to face so she can convince him to murder the king. Through this scence you can also tell that she has a desire to become queen. Although this is only our first encounter with Lady Macbeth we can she that she is not only a strong woman but also has a huge influence on Macbeth. Perhaps she will be the one to call Macbeth to his adventure.
Great job! It is Shakespeare's intention for Lady Macbeth to elicit an immediate reaction from the audience by being so cruel, bold, and power hungry.
ReplyDeleteSome may speculate that she plays the role of temptress, trickster, or shapeshifter. She may also be grouped into the Enemies and Allies stage of the hero journey. I appreciate your characterization of Macbeth's other half and I believe it will help your fellow classmates understand her character. Thank you.