Female Evil in Shakespeare

Lady Macbeth's Influence on the Development of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth"

Term Paper , 2015 , 17 Pages , Grade: 1,0

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

How does Lady Macbeth promote Macbeth's plot? How does she manipulate other characters, especially her husband, and what is the aftermath? What effect does her behaviour have on herself? These questions will be answered in the examination of the role of Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth sets up her plan immediately after having read Macbeth's letter in which he reports of three witches' prophecies of him being thane of Glamis, becoming thane of Cawdor and finally King. After the fulfilment of the first prophecy that Macbeth would become thane of Cawdor, it is no question for Lady Macbeth that her husband should and will become the King of Scotland. So she does not hesitate to take the decision to talk him into murdering the present King. The consequences of her decision and her following behaviour will be examined in this term paper.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• 1. Introduction...
• 2. Gender Roles in the Shakespearian Play Macbeth...
• 3. Lady Macbeth's Influence on the Plot of Macbeth...
  • 3.1 Act One - Lady Macbeth as Decision-Maker...
  • 3.2 Act Two The Plan Succeeds...
  • 3.3 Act Three - Keeping Up Appearances...
  • 3.4 Act Five Getting to Feel the Consequences...
• 4. Conclusion.........
• 5. Bibliography..

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This term paper examines the role of Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, focusing on her influence on the plot and the consequences of her actions. The paper aims to analyze how Lady Macbeth manipulates other characters, particularly her husband, and the impact of her behavior on herself.

• The influence of Lady Macbeth's ambition on Macbeth's actions.
• The portrayal of gender roles in Elizabethan England and how they are challenged by Lady Macbeth's character.
• The consequences of Lady Macbeth's ambition and her descent into guilt and madness.
• The relationship between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth and how it evolves throughout the play.
• The dramatic function of Lady Macbeth's character in the play.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Chapter 1: Introduction This chapter introduces the reader to the play and its context, providing an overview of Lady Macbeth's role in the narrative. It explores her initial motivations and the consequences of her actions.
• Chapter 2: Gender Roles in the Shakespearian Play Macbeth This chapter analyzes the role of women in Elizabethan society and how Lady Macbeth's character challenges traditional gender roles. It explores the concept of "unsexing" and how it applies to Lady Macbeth's ambition.
• Chapter 3: Lady Macbeth's Influence on the Plot of Macbeth This chapter examines Lady Macbeth's influence on the plot of Macbeth, focusing on her manipulation of characters and her contribution to the play's central conflict. It examines her role in each act, highlighting her motivations and actions.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This term paper focuses on key concepts such as gender roles, ambition, manipulation, guilt, and madness. It examines the character of Lady Macbeth within the context of William Shakespeare's play Macbeth and the Elizabethan era.

• College: University of Duisburg-Essen (Anglophone Studies)
• Course: A Survey of British Literature
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Master of Education Marie Sophie Jendrusch (Author)
• Publication Year: 2015
• Pages: 17
• Catalog Number: V1236021
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346656681
• ISBN (Book): 9783346656698
• Language: English
• Tags: Macbeth, William Shakespeare, Women, Analysis, Gender, Lady Macbeth