Mind Map

Shakespeare completely presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman? She controls her husband - tells Macbeth what to do. Act 1 Scene 7 - undermines Macbeth's masculinity and manipulates him into murder.Reversal of marital/gender roles.Supernatural powers - calls upon the spirits to strengthen her.She comes up with the plan to kill Duncan!Power-driven woman - uses power to gain more power.Is literally powerful - becomes queen after Duncan's death. Inner power is reflected externally in her status.Shakespeare somewhat presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman? Could be argued that she is an agent of her own destiny? Tries to control the situation, but could be seen to fail. Ultimately kills herself - is this a failure, or an ultimate demonstration of her control over her own life in the face of her oncoming insanity?Supernatural involvement - is she controlling the spirits, or are they controlling her? Ambiguous nature of the supernatural elements of the play - three witches seem to have some sort of agency, but also read the future. Not necessarily controlling it, but merely messengers to enable the future to happen? Ambiguous mortal-spiritual interaction throughout the play.Shakespeare does not present Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman? Removal of her femininity - refusal of motherhood, etc... Therefore, she cannot be a powerful woman because Shakespeare has made her neither woman nor man. Additionally, have to acknowledge her forced passivity - can only act through her husband. Is the source of his comfort after the deed is done. At the end of the play, she kills herself - guilt affects her more greatly than Macbeth despite their reversed roles at the beginning of the play. Typical feature in Shakespearean literature - powerful female characters have to be subdued. This is often achieved via marriage (Taming of the Shrew, Much Ado), but can also be achieved by killing problematic characters off. Her power is undermined!