Slide 2 Lady Macbeth Character Analysis by Bailey Hughes Slide 3
Characters Characters are the people responsible for the thoughts
and actions within a story, poem or literature. Characters are the
medium through which we are able to interact with a piece of
literature. It is the work of an author, to create a persona that
assists us in forming a plot or creating a mood. What are
characters? What role do characters play in literature? Slide 4
Gender Stereotypes Females are stereotyped to be very nurturing,
gentle and caring. Women are stereotyped as the inferior race,
being more weak and cowardly. Common feminine traits include
dependent, emotional, sensitive and passive. Males are stereotyped
as very independent and strong. Typically, men are meant to be very
logical, aggressive and courageous, conveyed as much more stable
than females. Men Women Slide 5 Shakespeare's subversions of
Stereotypes Lady Macbeth Shakespeare conveys Lady Macbeth in
contrast to Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is primarily conveyed as;
Insensitive, unemotional, aggressive and strong. Finally, Lady
Macbeth is conveyed as an emotional, sensitive and passive
character. I would while it smiling in my face, have plucked my
nipple from his boneless gum, and dashed the brains out. Noughts
had, alls spent, Where our desires is got without content; Tis
safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in
doubtful joy. Slide 6 Relationships with Macbeth Primarily
Ultimately Lady Macbeth is the dominant partner. She is very
insensitive, aggressive and questions Macbeths manhood. Lady
Macbeth pressures Macbeth into being more courageous, she contrasts
the stereotypical female. Lady Macbeth is very passive. She is
guilt stricken and represents female stereotypes. Macbeth is
aggressive and insensitive, he dominates Lady Macbeth. Macbeth
conveys the normal male stereotypes. But screw your courage to the
sticking-place, And well not fail. Slide 7 Relationships with
herself Primarily Lady Macbeth challenges her stereotypes. She is
very aggressive and insensitive. Lady Macbeth becomes driven by her
need for power. She manipulates herself into becoming an
unemotional female, being courageous and being insensitive. unsex
me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst
cruelty Slide 8 Relationships with herself Ultimately Nought's had,
all's spent, Where our desire is got without content; 'Tis safer to
be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.
Lady Macbeth returns to being conveyed as a stereotypical woman.
Her guilt of organizing Duncan's murder influences her. Lady
Macbeth gets paranoid and sees blood on her hands, she is
overwhelmed by guilt and becomes emotional and very sensitive.
Commits suicide. Slide 9 Potential Essay Questions This
presentation would be useful in understanding the character of Lady
Macbeth and Shakespeares subversions of gender stereotypes.
Discourses discuss a gendered discourse Analysis of a character
within a text discuss Lady Macbeth Character construction within a
text Feminist Discourses Slide 10 References and Quotes. Slide 11
References http://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth/page_96.html
http://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth/page_180.html
http://www.shakespeare- navigators.com/macbeth/quotesmacbeth.html
http://www.shakespeare- navigators.com/macbeth/quotesmacbeth.html
http://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossar y.htm#c
http://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossar y.htm#c
Slide 12 Quotes I would while it smiling in my face, have plucked
my nipple from his boneless gum, and dashed the brains out. (Act 1,
Scene 7, Line 56) Noughts had, alls spent, Where our desires is got
without content; Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by
destruction dwell in doubtful joy. (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 4) But
screw your courage to the sticking-place, And well not fail. (Act
1, Scene 7) unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe
top-full of direst cruelty (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 38)
