The Role of Women in Macbeth
The play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare presents a tragedy story of a soldier Macbeth who comes out as both a protagonist and antagonist in the same story. Macbeth is ambitious and with thirst, seeks for power forgetting his morals, and almost destroys the kingdom that he seeks to rule. Shakespeare employs a wide range of themes throughout the play and develops his characters around the main themes. However, women come out to play the most significant role in the development of the play. The protagonist, Macbeth, had initially been a good man who had managed to suppress his thirst for power. However, the involvement of women in Macbeth’s life changed the course of his life. Generally, the play “Macbeth” is built around six women who change the direction of the story on several occasions. Usually, Macbeth is an evil man, but his actions can be generally attributed to the influence of women in his life. Women are portrayed as characters who play an influential role in opening the eyes of the men on matters concerning the pursuance of dreams irrespective of whether the dream is good or evil.
Shakespeare builds his play “Macbeth” on the protagonist Macbeth who turns out to become the antagonist, and fate can be attributed to the role played by women. Initially, Macbeth was a man of good faith despite his thirst for power. Macbeth had managed to suppress his evil side by keeping is pure and right side alive. For example, he had initially paid no attention to the words of the witches and did not think he could manage to kill the king. Also, Macbeth had not believed he could shut down his pure and good side until his wife proved that darkness could be allowed to take away the pure and good nature of a human being. Generally, Shakespeare uses women in the play to show how their persuasive nature can lead men into making terrible decisions in life. Macbeth would have had a better life had he changed his perception towards the kingdom, and he would not live to see the consequences of his evil ambitions. Also, women are seen as characters who will go against all the odds to achieve their girls despite the outcomes of the achievements. One of the female characters who play a crucial role in the shaping of the structure of the play is Lady Macbeth.
The change in Macbeth’s character can be blamed on Lady Macbeth. Macbeth had initially admitted to having desires to rule the kingdom, although he was not willing to take the risk of killing King Duncan and thought that a better way existed through which he could ascend to power. However, the witches come with a prophecy that gave Macbeth a change of mind after learning that he was destined to greatness. Lady Macbeth is powerful and influential, having the desire to push her husband towards achieving his goals against any odds. However, Lady Macbeth allows her desires to compromise her decision-making, and she does not relent in pushing for the killing of the king so that Macbeth can assume the throne. At some point, Lady Macbeth calls for the help of darkness in driving out the kind-heartedness of her husband: “Come, thick night and pall thee in the most dun smoke of hell” Shakespeare (1.5). Furthermore, Lady Macbeth shows a different type of woman from the one the society expected. Instead of playing the stereotypical role of childbearing and building her family, Lady Macbeth is concerned with politics and leadership. The role gives to Lady Macbeth by Shakespeare is that of a persuasive and seductive lady and her impact on a listening husband: “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the [valor] of my tongue…All that impedes thee from the golden round” Shakespeare (37). Moreover, Lady Macbeth does not move away entirely from the roles of normal ladies.
Women are known to have less emotional strength compared to men. Although the initial efforts by ladies show blindness towards the consequences, the outcomes of the decisions made by women tend to be disastrous, leading to depression. Lady Macbeth represents the inability of women to persevere the intensity of pursuing evil desires. After learning of the deaths that had happened due to her husband’s move towards the throne, Lady Macbeth becomes depressed, mad, and commits suicide. The ending of Lady Macbeth’s life brings into light the results of making poor decisions. Generally, Lady Macbeth plays a crucial role in bringing out the results of corruption. Moreover, the witches are ladies and are used widely and bring out a different role of women.
The supernatural aspect in “Macbeth” is brought out by ladies who are depicted as witches. Shakespeare uses the female witches to create a conflict among the audience in attempting to conclude whether Macbeth was responsible for his fate or the witches played a significant role in changing the fate of Macbeth. The female witches bring out the prophecies concerning the fate of Macbeth and convince him that he was responsible for the way that the prophecies would come true. Furthermore, the witches continue with the persuasive nature showed by Lady Macbeth and convinced Macbeth that his pure and right side would not benefit him while pursuing his dreams. Generally, the supernatural powers given to the witches are responsible for the conflict that arises concerning the role of supernatural powers in changing the fate of human beings: “When the hurly-burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won” Shakespeare (1). Moreover, ladies are presented as being jealous and responsible for the failure of their friends and leaders.
Women in “Macbeth” are presented as initiators of failure both for men and fellow women. Macbeth had managed to keep his pure and right side alive until the influence of women came into play. Before the persuasion of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth met the witches who make known to him the prophecies that were to come true only if Macbeth decided to shut down his bright side: “Fair is foul, and foul is fair; Hover through the fog and filthy air” Shakespeare (8). However, the prophecies given by the witches later came to bring out a negative trait of the lady witches. The witches watched in happiness as Macbeth’s marriage broke into shambles. Also, the witches had ill-intentions and watched in happiness as the evil desires of Macbeth led him into self-destruction. The witches generally play the role of shaping the mood of the play into one of pessimism as they witness Macbeth as he fails in his mission, although they were responsible for the mission through their prophecy. Moreover, Shakespeare uses Lady Macduff to bring out the positive traits of women in “Macbeth.”
The role of women is given a boost towards showing that women still had positive traits. Lady Macduff is presented as a complete contrast of Lady Macbeth and the witches. Lady Macduff pays more attention to her family than the desire to convince her husband towards going for evil desires. Macduff has sworn to pursue vengeance against Macbeth for killing Duncan, but Lady Macbeth is convinced that vengeance is not the best option to consider. According to Lady Macduff, choosing a wrong as a solution for another wrong does not make one of the wrongs right. Besides, Lady Macduff has a strong moral position and does not let any desires to compromise her decision-making. Generally, Lady Macduff has a stable mental state and creates a contrast between Lady Macduff and other female characters in the play. Moreover, the role of female characters comes out again through Hecate, the female god who works in collaboration with the witches to oversee the destruction of Macbeth.
Shakespeare brings out concern on whether the Greek gods have good intentions towards the human race by using a female god. Hecate appears to be empowering the female witches and giving them the power to convince Macbeth towards the pursuance of his evil ambitions: “And I, the mistress of your charms, the close contriver of all harms, [I] was never [called] to bear my part” Shakespeare (4). Mysticism and supernatural aspects are incorporated into the play by utilizing Hecate. However, Hecate does not play a significant role in changing the direction of the play’s plot, but she helps the witches towards achieving their dreams. Generally, Hecate acts to critic the role of the Greek gods, and Shakespeare questions whether the gods act towards the common good of the human race. However, the roles that Shakespeare gives to women appear contradictory and end up leaving the reader in suspense.
The presentation of women in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” appears contradictory, leaving the reader in suspense. Shakespeare uses women with strange characters that do not portray the real picture of women in society. Apart from Lady Macduff, the other women in the play show outrageous characters, and the reader is left wondering whether Shakespeare is coming up with a fictional society of women. For example, the role of beards, as seen in the witches, brings out a controversy. In his article, “What are these faces? -Interpreting Bearded Women in Macbeth”, Greatley (92) raises a concern on whether the women with strange characters represented the whole women population or a section. Greatley appears to have a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s work and bases his argument on facts as represented in the play. The bearded witches are used to show the exceptional women characters whose traits are nowhere near the expected traits by society. Generally, Shakespeare goes beyond the stereotypical women’s traits to incorporate women in his play.
In sum, women are portrayed as characters who play the persuasive role towards opening the eyes of the men on matters concerning the pursuance of dreams irrespective of whether the dream is good or evil. Shakespeare uses women in the play to show how their persuasive nature can lead men into making terrible decisions in life. Macbeth would have had a better life had he changed his perception towards the kingdom, and he would not live to see the consequences of his evil ambitions. Generally, Shakespeare uses women with strange characters that do not portray the real picture of women in society. Apart from Lady Macduff, the other women in the play show outrageous characters, and the reader is left wondering whether Shakespeare is coming up with a fictional society of women.
Works Cited
Greatley-Hirsch, Brett. “‘What are these faces?’Interpreting Bearded Women in Macbeth.” Renaissance Drama and Poetry in Context: Essays for Christopher Wortham (2018): 91- 114.
Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Macbeth. Vol. 2. Classic Books Company, 2001.