Lady Macbeth is in a sense, the fourth witch. Although she doesn't represent a sate in time, and this was never mentioned in the story, she posses witch like qualities that make the reader (through many implications) believe she is apart of the "witch clan".
"The raven himself is hoarse, That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan, Under my battlements. Come, you spirits, That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe topful Of direst cruelty!" (Act 1, Scene 5, 38-43, Macbeth.) This quote was said after Lady read the kings arrival, and is telling the readers of Macbeth that Lady Macbeth is beginning to get pleasures from the thought of power. After imagining the murder more and more, she becomes so obsessed with herself and feels pleasure during the thought of power.
Her new found obsession quickly makes her willing to do anything to be in power, even if it's on someone elses life. This implication proves that Lady Macbeth is a self centred and a narcissistic person by telling the reader that Lady does not care for anybody.
Her new found obsession quickly makes her willing to do anything to be in power, even if it's on someone elses life. This implication proves that Lady Macbeth is a self centred and a narcissistic person by telling the reader that Lady does not care for anybody.
Witches are thought to be manipulative, which is why it is strange to think that Lady Macbeth is manipulative. Although strange, the thought must exist when the character pushes and convinces her own husband to be on board with a murder. "If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well It were done quickly. If th’assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success: that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all, here, But here upon this bank and shoal of time, We’d jump the life to come." (Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth.) This quote was said by Macbeth.
The meaning of this is that Macbeth knows the terrible deed of murdering Duncan (the king) would be easy, but only if he was certain that there was no consequences. He later decided that even on earth, wrong actions “return / To plague th’inventor” (Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth.) Lady Macbeth then uses her manipulative skills to the test by attempting to show Macbeth that she herself, is more manlier then him (questioning his manhood). "Come, you spirits of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood." (Act 1, Scene 5, Macbeth) Lady Macbeth knew that Macbeth would become offended and intrigued to prove himself, thus proving her manipulative ways.
Throughout the shakespearian play, the reader gets the sense that Lady Macbeth is evil, even more evil than Macbeth. Lady Macbeth would stop at no means to please anyone but herself; she would do anything for profound immortality. Wanting to be nearly invincible, Lady Macbeth creates a plan to murder King Duncan, so her husband Macbeth can become the ruling King and she can be the righteous queen.
Her wickedness begins to play a major roll when she strategies her plan to Macbeth, and makes HIM commit the crime."But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey Soundly invite him — his two chamberlains
The meaning of this is that Macbeth knows the terrible deed of murdering Duncan (the king) would be easy, but only if he was certain that there was no consequences. He later decided that even on earth, wrong actions “return / To plague th’inventor” (Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth.) Lady Macbeth then uses her manipulative skills to the test by attempting to show Macbeth that she herself, is more manlier then him (questioning his manhood). "Come, you spirits of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood." (Act 1, Scene 5, Macbeth) Lady Macbeth knew that Macbeth would become offended and intrigued to prove himself, thus proving her manipulative ways.
Throughout the shakespearian play, the reader gets the sense that Lady Macbeth is evil, even more evil than Macbeth. Lady Macbeth would stop at no means to please anyone but herself; she would do anything for profound immortality. Wanting to be nearly invincible, Lady Macbeth creates a plan to murder King Duncan, so her husband Macbeth can become the ruling King and she can be the righteous queen.
Her wickedness begins to play a major roll when she strategies her plan to Macbeth, and makes HIM commit the crime."But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we'll not fail. When Duncan is asleep
Whereto the rather shall his day's hard journey Soundly invite him — his two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason A limbeck only. When in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lie as in a death, What cannot you and I perform upon The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt Of our great quell?" (Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth) By forcing Macbeth to do her dirty work, she shows no compassion for others,
which represents evil. The quote previously mentioned also indicates that Lady Macbeth has a sick and twisted mind for thinking
and conjuring those thoughts on her own and in her spare time.
All of the qualities that Lady Macbeth possess mentioned, are all qualities that "witches" in the Elizabethan time period also have. Manipulation, evil, self centred, narcissistic, are all dark and twisted characteristics a person can contain within them. Because witches are so similar to the characteristics of Lady, Shakespeare is in a way foreshadowing that Lady Macbeth is in a sense, the fourth witch of Macbeth.
and conjuring those thoughts on her own and in her spare time.
All of the qualities that Lady Macbeth possess mentioned, are all qualities that "witches" in the Elizabethan time period also have. Manipulation, evil, self centred, narcissistic, are all dark and twisted characteristics a person can contain within them. Because witches are so similar to the characteristics of Lady, Shakespeare is in a way foreshadowing that Lady Macbeth is in a sense, the fourth witch of Macbeth.
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