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Sample Gcse Essay About Lady Macbeth As A Powerful Character

Date : 03/10/2017

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This article contains a mock essay written by one of my students. When I met him, he was scoring a 3 to 4 in his mock GSCE English language and literature exams.

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Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Lady Macbeth is possibly Shakespeare’s most famous and vivid female character. Everyone, whether they have read or seen the Macbeth play , has a view of her. She is generally depicted in the popular mind as the epitome of evil, and images of her appear over and over again in several cultures. She is usually portrayed in pictures as something like a Disney character, a cross between Cruella DeVille and the wicked stepmother in Snow White.

Although she has some of the most bloodthirsty lines in Shakespeare she is not quite Cruella De Ville or the wicked stepmother. The response she gets from the male characters suggests that she is a young, sexually attractive woman and, indeed, in her effort to influence Macbeth, she uses every method at her disposal, including the employment of her sexual charms.

She is usually depicted as a strong, tough woman and, in her drive to induce Macbeth to murder King Duncan, she appears to be that, but, having succeeded, it does not take long for her to crumble and break down, destroyed by guilt, and she ends up committing suicide.

Shakespeare does not have any evil characters. What he has are ordinary human beings, like you and me, placed in situations that challenge and test them. Some of them, like Iago in Othello , have personality defects, but that’s rare in Shakespeare and it’s not the case with Lady Mcbeth.

The challenges that Shakespeare presents his characters with generates different responses from different people. Lady Macbeth’s challenge is that she discovers that her husband has been tempted by an encounter with three witches to do something about their prediction that he will become king. She knows that the king would have to die for that to happen. When she gets a message that King Duncan plans to spend the night with them at Glamys Castle it seems to confirm the thought that they would have to kill him and that this was their once in a lifetime opportunity. That’s the situation into which she has been thrust.

She is as ambitious as Macbeth but she knows that for all his bravery in battle, all his soldierly and diplomatic qualities, he is basically much too soft –“too full of the milk of human kindness” – to take advantage of the opportunity. She makes up her mind to make him do it.

And she is right about his lack of resolve – they talk it over and he tells her that he just can’t do it. She goes into high gear and virtually holds his hand through it. One of her strongest qualities is persistence and she shows it here. Macbeth hesitates, equivocates and falters but she holds firm. She argues the case, she mocks him, bringing his manhood into question, she appeals to his sense of loyalty to her, she takes him to bed, and she finally prevails.

Macbeth kills Duncan in his sleep and from that moment their marriage begins to fall apart. They each fall into their own guilt-trip and hardly speak to each other. As king, Macbeth fears his political enemies and embarks on a reign of terror while Lady Macbeth stays in bed, unable to sleep, having nightmares when she does manage it. While walking and talking in her sleep she gives the game away about what they have done and sinks into a moral, physical and spiritual collapse. When Macbeth is on his last legs, with the rebels closing in, he gets the message that she’s dead. At that point, he says he doesn’t have time to think about it. “She should have died hereafter,” he says. Their partnership in this murderous enterprise has destroyed their marriage.

The promise of strength that we see in her at the beginning of the play is an illusion. What we are seeing is naked ambition and a willingness to act on it without having the resources to deal with the consequences. We see how guilt can eat up your soul and destroy you. We see how hollow ambition is, both in her journey and Macbeth’s. (Read the most  significant Macbeth ambition quotes .)

Character attributes

Some significant character attributes of Lady Macbeth are:

• Controlling – she understands that her husband doesn’t have the savageness required to murder the king of his own accord, so she manipulates him. She plans out the murder, then takes control of events when Macbeth loses his mind.
• Cruel – she is a violent, cold-blooded character who is happy to scheme the murder. She ridicules Macbeth when he doesn’t agree to participate in her violent plans.
• Two-faced – she welcomes King Duncan like a friend whilst at the same time planning his murder. She also advises Macbeth to be two-faced.

Erika Sunnegårdh as Lady Macbeth

Top Lady Macbeth Quotes

“I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness

( act 1, scene 5 )

“To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue; look like th’ innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t.”

“ 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,

“Would’st thou have that Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” Like the poor cat i’ th’ adage? “

( act 1, scene 7 )

“I have given suck, and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this.”

“ Out! damned spot! “

( act 5, scene 1 )

Read more Lady Macbeth quotes .

See All Macbeth Resources

Macbeth | Macbeth summary | Macbeth characters : Banquo , Lady Macbeth , Macbeth , Macduff , Three Witches | Macbeth settings | Modern Macbeth translation  | Macbeth full text | Macbeth PDF  |  Modern Macbeth ebook | Macbeth for kids ebooks | Macbeth quotes | Macbeth ambition quotes |  Macbeth quote translations | Macbeth monologues | Macbeth soliloquies | Macbeth movies | Macbeth themes

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Common Questions About Lady Macbeth

Is lady macbeth a true story.

Although Shakespeare used the names of real historical people in writing Hamlet, the events of the drama are mostly made up. So in that sense, Lady Macbeth is not a real character. There was an 11th-century Scottish king named Mac Bethad Mac Findlaich . Presumably, he had a wife but we know nothing about her.

What kind of character is Lady Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth is ambitious. She is manipulative and uses several techniques of a skilled manipulator to entice Macbeth into the murder of Duncan. Usually thought of as a hard, ruthless woman, she is, in reality, soft. Not long after the murder, unable to cope with her guilt, she falls apart and loses all sense of herself.

What happens to Lady Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth tries to prop her husband up as he descends into a guilt-ridden hell but she soon falls victim to the same condition. Her whole life literally becomes a nightmare, in which she relives the event that has brought her condition about. Her life becomes unbearable and she commits suicide.

Who does Lady Macbeth kill?

Lady Macbeth does not personally kill anyone. She conspires in the murder of the king, Duncan, though, and actively encourages Macbeth to kill him. It is Macbeth who does the actual killing. Lady Macbeth plays no part in the many further killings that Macbeth engineers. Soon after the killing of Duncan the two don’t even talk to each other.

What made Lady Macbeth go crazy?

Lady Macbeth is partly responsible for the kind of killing that was taboo in Mediaeval Scotland – murdering one’s king, murdering one’s relative and murdering a guest in one’s house. In killing Duncan the couple did all three. She begins to have nightmares about the murder and, in particular, the blood on her hands, which she can’t get rid of no matter how hard she scrubs. That drives her to suicide.

How does Lady Macbeth feel after the killing of Duncan?

Once Duncan is killed Lady Macbeth is pleased that her ambition to be the wife of a king has been achieved, but that feeling very soon turns sour as guilt begins to eat away at her. She then she has feelings that she can’t live with, and ends up killing herself (one of 13 suicides in Shakespeare’s plays ).

Is 2016 film Lady Macbeth based on Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth character?

No. Lady Macbeth is a 2016 British film based on Nikolai Leskov’s novella Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District , and starring Florence Pugh.

Essays on Power of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Play "Macbeth."

A short summary of lady macbeth character in shakespeare play macbeth, attachments.

Lady Macbeth is a complex and fascinating character in William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth. She is the wife of the play's protagonist, Macbeth, and plays a significant role in the events that unfold throughout the play.

At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a powerful and ambitious woman who is not afraid to take control of a situation. She is the driving force behind Macbeth's decision to murder King Duncan in order to fulfill the witches' prophecy and become king himself. She is portrayed as cunning and manipulative, as she uses her persuasive skills to convince Macbeth to commit the murder, even when he is hesitant.

Throughout the play, Lady Macbeth's character undergoes a significant transformation. As the guilt of their actions begins to weigh on her, she becomes increasingly tormented and unstable. She experiences vivid hallucinations and becomes consumed with guilt and remorse for her role in Duncan's murder. Her descent into madness culminates in her tragic suicide, which is a pivotal moment in the play's dramatic climax.

Lady Macbeth's character is also interesting for her gendered role in the play. As a woman in a patriarchal society, Lady Macbeth must navigate the constraints of her gender in order to achieve her ambitions. She is  aware of the societal expectations placed upon her and uses her femininity as a tool to manipulate and control Macbeth. However, her ambition ultimately leads to her downfall, and she is punished for crossing her boundaries.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth is a complex and compelling character whose actions drive the plot of the play. Her transformation from a powerful and manipulative figure to a tormented and guilt-ridden woman is a tragic  exploration of the human psyche. Additionally, her gendered role in the play highlights the societal expectations placed upon women during Shakespeare's time, and the consequences of challenging those expectations.

Here, you can find downloadable resources which contain essays written by GCSE students on lady Macbeth's characters.

• GCSE Essay about Lady Macbeth
• A pack of 6 sample essays written by GCSE students on character of Lady Macbeth

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Notes on Character Sketch of Lady Macbeth in English

Back to: Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Table of Contents

A Loving Wife

In the play, Lady Macbeth is the wife of the protagonist Macbeth and one of the most powerful presences of a female character in literature. 

She is introduced to us in the play reading a letter from her husband who calls her his “ dearest partner of greatness. ” It tells us of their successful partnership in life and love. 

She presents us the limitation which a woman faces who wants to achieve like a man in a culture fashioned after norms created by men for men. So, in her very first soliloquy, one can see her successfully describing the attributes of ambition normally reserved for a man and despairing over the fact.

Ruthless & Manipulative

Lady Macbeth is ruthless. She is equipped with the tools apt for acquiring power. She truly believes her husband will be crowned but she fears his nature which is “ full of the milk of human kindness .”

She suppresses everything traditionally aligned with femininity. In her own words, everything her husband lacks after the aid of fate and metaphysical forces, she makes it up with “ the valour of her tongue. ” 

In a very effective manner, she manipulates her husband out of calls of his conscience. The tools she employs is that of the female. She is perhaps more ambitious and power-hungry than Macbeth and in order to be so she is full of single-minded cruelty too. In a very conventional manner, she mocks the manhood of Macbeth which makes him override his moral hesitations. 

Anti-feminine

Her character tells us of the restraints imposed upon a female personality due to gender-based preconceptions. Her character is constantly trying to “ unsex ” itself and she asks spirits for her blood to “ make thick ” and “ stop up the access and passage to remorse .” In a very anti-mother way, she wants to stop having any feminine feelings and sensitivity.

The sharp non-conformity in her character brings her very close in similarity to the three witches in the play. She has an empowered sense to defy established authority, it is proved by the way she designs the murder of King Duncan without allowing any guilt or inhibition of fear.

A Powerful Lady

She has the faculty of power reserved for a man and when Macbeth questions his actions, she shouts, “ what beast wasn’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man. ”

Towards the last two acts in the play, her strength gives in, her ambition descends into guilt and further into madness and death. The knowledge of misdeeds done by her husbands under her fast provocations disintegrates her psyche.

She finally confesses her crimes and her death shocks Macbeth into a realm in which he finally loses himself. The character of Lady Macbeth is the guiding support to the character of Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare’s Enigmatic Powerhouse

This essay offers an in-depth exploration of one of Shakespeare’s most complex characters, Lady Macbeth, from the play ‘Macbeth.’ It begins by highlighting her unique position in Elizabethan literature as a character who defies traditional gender norms with her overwhelming ambition and strength. The essay delves into her famous “unsex me here” soliloquy, which sets the stage for her role as a driving force in Macbeth’s rise to power, showcasing her willingness to abandon morality for ambition.

As the narrative progresses, the essay examines the transformation of Lady Macbeth from a figure of control to one tormented by guilt, particularly evident in her sleepwalking scene. This shift underscores Shakespeare’s skill in creating psychologically complex characters. Additionally, the essay discusses the evolving dynamics between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, emphasizing the psychological toll of their actions.

Concluding with reflections on her enduring legacy in modern interpretations, the essay positions Lady Macbeth as a timeless figure in Shakespeare’s canon, continuously fascinating audiences with her depth and complexity. This exploration not only sheds light on her character but also on broader themes of gender, power, and morality in literature. Additionally, PapersOwl presents more free essays samples linked to Lady Macbeth.

How it works

When diving into the works of Shakespeare, few characters captivate and intrigue as thoroughly as Lady Macbeth from the Scottish play, ‘Macbeth.’ Often regarded as one of the Bard’s most complex and enigmatic figures, Lady Macbeth’s character has been the subject of extensive analysis and debate. She defies the conventional expectations of women in Elizabethan literature, simultaneously embodying strength, ambition, and a deep-seated vulnerability.

At her introduction, Lady Macbeth is presented as the driving force behind her husband’s ascent to the throne.

Her ambition is palpable, so strong that it appears to eclipse Macbeth’s own. This fierce determination is most vividly captured in her chilling “unsex me here” soliloquy. Here, she calls upon dark forces to strip her of feminine weakness and fill her with cruelty, underscoring her willingness to abandon gender norms and morality for power. This scene sets the tone for her character – a woman who defies the patriarchal expectations of her time, wielding influence over her husband and the events that unfold.

However, Lady Macbeth’s strength and resolve are not one-dimensional. As the plot progresses, her initial ruthlessness unravels, revealing a profound psychological complexity. The guilt from her actions manifests in the famous sleepwalking scene, where she desperately tries to wash the imagined bloodstains from her hands. This shift from a figure of immense control to one haunted by the consequences of her actions offers a window into the psychological realism Shakespeare infuses in his characters. It’s a portrayal that humanizes Lady Macbeth, portraying her not just as a figure of ambition and power, but also as a person grappling with guilt and moral disintegration.

The dynamics of her relationship with Macbeth also serve as a critical aspect of her character. Initially, she appears to be the dominant force, goading Macbeth into committing regicide. However, as the play progresses, their relationship undergoes a dramatic inversion. Macbeth descends into tyranny and paranoia, while Lady Macbeth becomes increasingly isolated and tormented by guilt. This transition highlights the psychological and emotional toll of their actions, serving as a poignant commentary on the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition and power.

In modern interpretations, Lady Macbeth has been portrayed in various lights – from a manipulative femme fatale to a tragic heroine crushed by the weight of her own ambitions. Her character continues to be a subject of fascination in theatrical productions and academic discussions. She stands as a testament to Shakespeare’s ability to create multifaceted characters that resonate across centuries.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth remains one of Shakespeare’s most compelling and debated characters. Her journey from a powerful, ambitious figure to a broken shell of guilt offers a rich study in character development and psychological complexity. Her role in ‘Macbeth’ challenges and expands the portrayal of women in literature, highlighting issues of gender, power, and morality. As audiences and readers continue to revisit and reinterpret her character, Lady Macbeth endures as a timeless figure in Shakespeare’s canon, captivating and intriguing with each portrayal.

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Lady Macbeth: Shakespeare's Enigmatic Powerhouse. (2024, Jan 16). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/lady-macbeth-shakespeares-enigmatic-powerhouse/

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Home Essay Examples Literature Macbeth Power

Macbeth: Power Of Lady Macbeth

• Category Literature
• Subcategory Poems
• Topic Macbeth Power

Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a construct to explore the effects of power in a women’s hand as a threatening and disastrous force which is a consequence of her ambition deep rooted with desires in order for her to gain a higher rank in the patriarchy.

Lady Macbeth’s unorthodox ambition has been present since her first soliloquy where she demands the supernatural to follow her commands highlighting her esteemed voice which is even respected by the supernatural. The fact she orders the witches to “come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts unsex me here” reveals how she does not even fear the supernatural possibly because her desires have made her so heart blind, she can no longer distinguish between right and wrong as she has no shame in committing this act. However, another interpretation could be how she is forced to suppress her emotions in order to guarantee the death of King Duncan, which shows the how she would do anything for Macbeth to be king. This is shocking to a Jacobean audience as it was accepted by society that women were the least powerful, but Lady Macbeth has completely substituted the view by showing her will to continue. Shakespeare has done this as Macbeth lacked the motivation to kill King Duncan hence wise Lady Macbeth is the exalted force to change his views where she tempts him into doing this act, foreshadowing her might to change even the greatest warriors who has gotten the title of “thane of Cawdor”. The repetition of the verb “Come” reflects her determination to gain power whether it is moral or not, reflecting the length she will go just to gain the title of the queen. Towards the Jacobean era this act would have been considered disgusting as it was a norm to believe that God has appointed the natural order and the fact Lady Macbeth wants to change this is controversy which exposes her grim side. Shakespeare has also chosen to show Lady Macbeth summoning “spirits” to “unsex” her in order to show the audience that she is going against God where she calls supernatural “spirits” to gain even more power, and the audience would expect to see this power used in evil ways which will eventually lead to her downfall. In conclusion, Lady’s Macbeths will continue to carry on her deeds, reflecting how she will firmly stand on what she believes in, portraying her as an ambitious and mighty character.

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Shakespeare also uses Lady Macbeth as example of corruption, perhaps to reveal how she may be powerful in terms of controlling others; but she lacks the strength to control herself. The main reason why Shakespeare has deliberately done this is to expose her fragile weakness, and by doing this we see the great downfall of Lady Macbeth which comes in the form of justice to a Jacobean audience. This is seen in the line “thick night”, “smoke of hell”, “the blanket of the dark”. By using semantic fields of darkness, it is evident she has been manipulated by her powers, and it is almost driving her towards madness. Shakespeare has done this to make it seem as if Lady Macbeth has been too interested in power and ironically it is her power which results into her tragic death. The word “hell” is interesting because Lady Macbeth knows she will go to hell but she continues to strive in her corrupt ways; to a Jacobean and a modern audience, this would be an atrocious act because it was a norm to follow a religious life style, but the fact that Lady Macbeth has chosen to live an opposite life style reveals how she has been misguided. In addition she misleads Macbeth by forcing him to “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it”. This metaphor has been used to show Lady Macbeth as a two faced character, and it proves that she has been deceived because she is constantly switching her personality, possibly because she has been confused. The word “serpent” has biblical connotations of devils and the fact she aspire to be like the devil is seen as an monstrous crime to commit even to a modern day reader which foreshadows her transgression.

However towards the end, Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth as an example to show how women who have power in their hands will lead to destruction where she subconsciously submits to guilt, despite her controlling attitude as well as her deep ignited ambition. This is seen in the line, “Out, damn spot! Out I say!” Here Lady Macbeth is clearly sleep walking due to her remorse which reveals how she cannot control herself, and to a Jacobean audience sleep walking was seen to be a unnatural act which only happened to those who were possessed. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth says “what will these hands ne’er be clean?” The pronoun “these” suggests the hands do not belong to her, and she wants to distance herself from herself both physically and spiritually. However, this is ironic as Lady Macbeth said in the early stages “what’s cannot be undone” so she knew the consequences yet she fails to deal with them suggesting her lack of power.  

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Essay Sample About Lady Macbeth As A Powerful Woman

In act 1 scene 5 Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman through her matriarchal relationship with Macbeth. This can be seen through Lady Macbeth expressing her feelings towards Macbeth “Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness.” The use of personification implies how Lady Macbeth expresses her concern that her husband lacked the necessary ruthlessness to kill King Duncan and seize the throne; she is also saying he doesn't have enough ambition to complete the task. This shows her power because she is pointing out all of Macbeths flaws that she could do herself because she has the ambition and ruthlessness to kill King Ducan if she was a man. “Milk of human kindness” suggests that Lady Macbeth is giving Macbeth female qualities and putting him down; “Milk” can suggest that Lady Macbeth has been corrupted by the power of the throne and it has made her sour also, Lady Macbeth is referring to breast milk and a child because Macbeth is not as ruthless and is too kind. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of “fear” and “Kindness” can imply that Lady Macbeth is acting like the witches because she is scared of Macbeth's  good characteristics (kindness,bravery). During the jacobean era men were superior and women weren’t part of the great chain of being so their relationship is matriarchal because lady macbeth was superior because she manipulates Macbeth and commands him to do things she wants to be done. A jacobean audience would be shocked by such portrayal of womanhood.

Another way Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman in act 1 scene 5 is as a woman who is trapped in a patriarchal society. The verb “unsex me here” conveys that Lady Macbeth wants all her femine characteristics stripped from her. Lady Macbeth doesn't have a desire to become masculine but to have her excessively “womanly” attributes such as compassion, so that she is able to act without guilt she would need this because she would have no emotion and would be powerful enough to commit evil. We can also learn from this that Lady macbeth is willing to anything to seize the throne for her husband and she is prepared to commit murder herself. During the Jocobean era it was a patriarchal society so Lady Macbeth couldn't gain any power from being a woman. A Jacobean audience wouldn’t have accepted Lady Macbeth's opinions because she didn't fit the stereotypical women of that era. Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth with remarkable effectiveness she makes him question his manliness and to prove himself he has to commit murder.

In addition, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman as a woman who is trapped in a patriarchal society by Lady Macbeth saying “Come you spirits That tend on my  mortal thoughts”. The use of the imperative suggests she is calling on the spirits that tend on her evil thoughts to come forward and fill her body with manly cruelty. She wants the spirits to remove her lady-like features she owns such as the motherly instincts and the supposedly very femine setbacks she insists she has, and fill her courage and manly strength that will allow her to commit the cruel and unspeakable act that she plans to commit.she is very much like the Witches casting a spell to summon up evil spirits. Furthermore this shows her ambition and power to try and kill King Duncan. In the jacobean era supernatural was feared and people were very superstitious therefore a Jacobean audience would be uncomfortable that a woman was saying this but also intrigued.

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For your revision you should plan an essay based around each of the following questions., remember that you can use quotes - or even entire paragraphs - in multiple questions, so be wise when you prepare. also, bear in mind that you will have an extract on the day but for revision purposes you're best to plan without one and then incorporate it where you see fit., for each essay, try to plan in the following way:, write your opening paragraph, know what each of your 2 or 3 paragraphs will be about, revise the quotes and key moments that you’ll use in them, ten key questions:, how is macbeth presented as a powerful man, how is lady macbeth presented as a powerful woman, how is ambition presented in this play, how is the supernatural presented in this play, how is guilt presented in this play, in macbeth, how does shakespeare present the idea that things are not what they seem, what role do the witches play in macbeth, how does shakespeare explore betrayal in this play, how does shakespeare present the natural order in this play, how does shakespeare present ideas of good and evil in this play, an example plan:, essay question: how is lady macbeth presented as a powerful woman, opening paragraph:, right from her first moment on-stage lady macbeth dominates the stage - she insults her husband, calls on spirits, and then suggests, plans and ensures the success of the murder. in fact, throughout almost the entire play she dominates those around her. in this respect, she is presented as being the most powerful force on-stage. by the end, however, she discovers that the only person she cannot dominate is herself and her own sense of guilt and eventually she (probably) kills herself. taken as a whole, she has to be seen as a powerful woman, though shakespeare invests so little time in the latter part of her character arc that it's impossible not to feel a little like she is quite underdeveloped., paragraph 1: lm as powerful: come you spirits / my battlements / look like th’ innocent flower / but be the serpent under it also, was she a witch & planning the murder & talking macbeth around in a1 s7, paragraph 2: lm as queen noughts had... etc. / shame itself / go at once lack of real motive for wanting to be queen & macbeth not explaining death of banquo, paragraph 3: lm's death o ut out damn spot was it suicide - sudden change of heart; her being asleep while feeling guilty; realising that they'd lost and not wanting to fall into enemy hands was she killed by seyton - some audience members would have wondered, paragraph 4: powerful women in jacobean times mention of elizabeth and bloody mary and that they both broke the traditional mould of passive women, note : there were loads of different ways i could have approached this essay and this is only one of them. you should look around and find an answer that you're confident with as this will make it much easier to learn and plan for..