Feminine Roles in Shakespeares Macbeth :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Macbeths Feminine Roles The feminine roles in William Shakespeares Macbeth are totally two, the witches being not human in many ways, and we shall consider besides one in owing(p) detail in this essay - that of the of the essence(predicate) doll Macbeth. The witches are considered briefly. In Memoranda Remarks on the Character of madam Macbeth, Sarah Siddons comments on how the feminine role of the leading lady is not a typical one as regards attitude Macbeth announces the Kings approach and she, insensible it should ca-ca the appearance _or_ semblance to all the perils which he has encountered in battle, and to all the happiness of his safe sideboard to her, -- for not one kind word of greeting or extolment 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 both the one and the other. It is very incomparable that Macbeth is frequent in expressions of tenderness to his wife , while she never betrays one omen of affection towards him, till, in the fiery furnace of affliction, her iron heart is melted refine to softness. (56) Fanny Kemble in maam Macbeth finds that the main female role could have ended in madness due to the evil tendencies of the lady Lady Macbeth, even in her sleep, has no qualms of conscience her remorse takes none of the tenderer forms like to repentance, nor the weaker ones allied to fear, from the pursuit of which the tortured soul, seeking where to hide itself, not seldom escapes into the boundless wilderness of madness. A very able article, published whatever years ago in the National Review, on the character of Lady Macbeth, insists much upon an opinion that she died of remorse, as some palliation of her crimes, and mitigation of our annoyance of them. That she died of wickedness would be, I think, a juster verdict. Remorse is consciousness of guilt . . . and that I think Lady Macbeth never had though the unrecognized pre ssure of her great guilt killed her. (116-17) Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare contradict the essence that the female protagonist is all strength Lady Macbeth is of a better and more delicate nature. Having fixed her eye upon the end - the attainment for her save of Duncans crown - she accepts the inevitable means she nerves herself for the terrible nights work by artificial stimulants yet she cannot strike the sleeping king who resembles her father.