The Weaker Sex in Macbeth :: GCSE Coursework Macbeth Essays

The Weaker Sex in Macbeth Shakespeares tragedy Macbeth exhibits a minimum of women among its dramatis personae. And of the cardinal involved in the drama, only one is worthy of consideration - gentlewoman Macbeth. The witches are questionable humans, but forget be treated briefly. In Macbeth as the Imitation of an Action Francis Fergusson enlightens the reader concerning the fears weakening Lady Macbeth I do not need to remind you of the great scenes preceding the murder, in which Macbeth and his Lady pull themselves together for their desperate effort. If you think over these scenes, you will notice that the Macbeths understand the action which begins here as a aspiration and a stunt, against reason and against nature. Lady Macbeth fears her husbands human nature, as well as her own effeminate nature, and therefore she fears the light of reason and the common twenty-four hour period world. (108) Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shak espeare contradict the impression that the female protagonist is every(prenominal) distinctiveness Lady Macbeth is of a finer and more(prenominal) delicate nature. Having fixed her eye upon the end - the attainment for her husband of Duncans pate - she accepts the inevitable means she nerves herself for the terrible nights work by dummy stimulants yet she cannot strike the sleeping king who resembles her father. Having sustained her weaker husband, her own strength gives way and in sleep, when her will cannot control her thoughts, she is piteously afflicted by the memory of one stain of blood upon her little hand. (792) In memorandum Remarks on the Character of Lady Macbeth, Sarah Siddons comments on how the feminine role of the leaders lady is not a typical one as regards positioning Macbeth announces the Kings approach and she, insensible it should seem to all the perils which he has encountered in battle, and to all the happiness of his safe return to her, -- for not o ne kind expression of greeting or congratulations does she offer, -- is so entirely swallowed up by the horrible design, which has probably been suggested to her by his letters, as to have forgotten some(prenominal) the one and the other. It is very remarkable that Macbeth is frequent in expressions of tenderness to his wife, charm she never betrays one symptom of affection towards him, till, in the fiery furnace of affliction, her urge on heart is melted down to softness.