Starting with this extract, explain how far you think Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a
powerful woman.
Introduction
What
- Write a clear topic sentence
expressing a singular,
developed thought focused on
one idea.
Point 1 Lady Macbeth is
characterised as that who is
an extremely powerful
character within the play,
both through her lacks for
regret for her actions as
well as being a character
who in particular has been
quite exploitative of her
own husband,
simultaneously both
subverting and
contradictorily following
social norms
First two paragraphs: Extract Analysis
Where + How Why
- Bullet point a key moment you will focus on to support your point. - Make a relevant point about
Shakespeare’s intentions by portraying
- Bullet point 2 / 3 key quotations you will embed throughout the paragraph to further
develop and explore your point. - How does contextual information link
to your interpretation/idea?
- Bullet point any relevant language/structure techniques you will analyse in further depth.
Lady Macbeth claims that her own husband is ‘too full o’ the milk of human kindness’, LMB is quite evidently accentuated,
and that she wishes that the witches would ‘unsex’ her ‘here’. In addition, she asks for through these quotations, as a
the witches to ‘take my milk for gall’ - thus, both her wish to be ‘unsexed here’, as character who is particularly
well as wishing for her ‘milk to be taken for gall’ successfully advocates for the idea effective and successful at taking
that she does not wish to conform to traditional ideas of what a woman should be; advantage of social norms and
and her rejection of her own femininity even more clearly underscores the idea that expectations in order to guilt trip
her femininity is that which is limiting her sheer, ‘vaulting ambition’, and that she Macbeth into doing the dirty work
would be able to do that which would make many others recoil. In essence, she instead of her doing it herself.
serves as a puppet master, who pulls and mercilessly yanks at Macbeth’s strings Moreover,
One can see how Lady Macbeth is able to successfully hide behind her womanly
figure in order to constantly pulling at the strings of Macbeth’s sanity for the purpose
of using him in order to accomplish the dirty work which she wishes that she could
do, but simply cannot without feeling sheer guilt and regret due to her feminine
qualities making her a softer character.
 Point 2 Lady Macbeth is that who is
advocated by Shakespeare
with the image of a woman
who appears to be rather
frustrated with her position
within society as a woman,
and she feels the need to be
freed of the limitations
associated with being a
woman.

Point 3 Lady Macbeth is a character

who is advocated for as a
figure who is very easily

Conclusion

Context:

● belonged to their fathers and then their husbands when they married
● could not attend school or university
● could not purchase property
● could not vote
● were not allowed on-stage
● Wives were expected to be obedient and subservient to their husbands, serving as ‘hostess and helpmate’

‘The repetition in a woman’s ear, Would murder as it fell.’ (A2S3)

‘I could play the woman with mine eyes.’ (A4S3)
‘make our women fight’ (A4S3)

‘spirits’, ‘That tend on mortal thoughts’, ‘murd’ring ministers’, ‘hell’, ‘heaven’

Audience would be shocked at her actions

‘Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?’

‘Are you a man?’

‘Sit’, ‘speak not’, ‘go at once’

Feeling that her womanly nature is not at all able to accomplish a crime from which Macbeth recoils… and notwithstanding resolved to fulfil

Get the servants - ‘wine and wassail’ - Act 1 Scene 7

Unlocks Duncan’s door - ‘The doors are open’ - Act 2 Scene 2

Prepares the daggers - ‘I laid their daggers ready’ - Act 2 Scene 2

Tells Macbeth to wash the blood from his hands - ‘wash this filthy witness from your hand’ - Act 2 Scene 2

‘Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck’ - Wants to keep Lady Macbeth pure and protected