Character Analysis by Bailey Hughes Lady Macbeth Character Analysis by Bailey Hughes

Characters What are 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 role do characters play in literature?

Gender Stereotypes Women 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

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.” →“Nought’s had, all’s spent, Where our desires is got without content; ‘Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy.”

Relationships with Macbeth Primarily 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 we’ll not fail.” Ultimately

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”

Relationships with herself Ultimately 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. “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.”

Potential Essay Questions This presentation would be useful in understanding the character of Lady Macbeth and Shakespeare’s 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

References and Quotes .

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://www2.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm#c

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) “Nought’s had, all’s 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 we’ll 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)