The critic, Bernstein, argues that Lady Macbeth’s “headstrong attempt to unsex herself and her ‘masculine indifference to blood and death’ make her a terrifying presence who is and is not a woman” To what extent do you agree with Bernstein’s view?

To an extent, Bernstein presents an accurate representation of Lady Macbeth who is the epitome of ‘sexual ambiguity’. Despite the fact that Macbeth is presented as ‘brave’, it is Lady Macbeth and her actions which prove him to be otherwise. Lady Macbeth’s use of the colour ‘white’ emphasises Macbeth’s supposed cowardliness, but also it can be argued that despite his actions, Macbeth can be seen as pure. It is the manipulation of others that causes his actions. However, this has the adverse effect of making Lady Macbeth appear more powerful, subverting the traditional ‘trembling victim’ stereotype that was expected of women in the Jacobean period. Lady Macbeth instead present herself as a ‘femme fatale’ who has both male and female characteristics. After Duncan’s death it is Lady Macbeth who ‘smears’ the ‘sleepy grooms with blood’ rather than Macbeth as it is she that is still calm and collected. This acceptance of the abject creates further gender ambiguity as surely an experienced soldier such as Macbeth should be able to deal with the consequences of murder. The use of the grotesque and Lady Macbeth’s lack of reaction to it makes her appear abhuman, and can be compared the witches with their ‘sow’s blood’ and ‘baboon’s blood’ who are most definitely abhuman with their chanting language and riddles.However, it can be argued that Lady Macbeth is not a terrifying character and instead is merely an ambitious woman, but it is the fact that this would not be accepted by contemporary society that Shakespeare implies her monstrosity. Lady Macbeth only appears collected after Duncan’s death because if she collapses like Macbeth does, their actions would be discovered. It is only later in Act 2 Scene 3 that she able to have ‘help’ and faints, as she knows by then that no one suspects her husband and the deed is done. However, it can be argued she pretends to faint in order to distract the others from Macbeth’s flailing excuses. She uses their sexism which is expressed by Macduff: ‘Tis not for you to hear’. The dramatic irony here makes the scene effective. She uses the tools available to her to ensure the best outcome for herself with one of these tools being her ‘brave Macbeth’.