Macbeth+Project+–+Alec+F+–+analysis

In the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth's breakdown shows that she isn't the heartless, manipulative monster she first appears to be, but rather is human and regrets her mistakes. When Lady Macbeth is first met, she is seen convincing her husband to murder the king and shows no regrets about it. Her ferocity and lack of a moral compass is showcased when she tells Macbeth that she would have "dashed [her baby's] brains out, had [she] sworn." The pure callousness of her response implies that Lady Macbeth would do anything to achieve power. She wouldn't just kill her own child. She would smash its head until its brains came out. Never does she seem remorseful about that fact. A mother killing her own child can be considered one of the greatest possible atrocities. Lady Macbeth appears to be a monster unless you notice that she says "had I sworn." This implies Lady Macbeth would have only done this if she said she would and she never said she would. Lady Macbeth is showing that one must be loyal to one's words no matter what, for honor is not something a terrible monster would possess. Even further, had Lady Macbeth been such a monster, she would have lamented about how "the thane of Fife had a wife." Something like having a wife would not matter to a woman that would kill her own child, yet she emphasizes this fact. She wonders how "the old man to have had so much blood in him" but said the bashed brains wouldn't bother her. This leads to an interesting contradiction, and the only way to determine the truthfulness of Lady Macbeth's statement would be to look at the context. In one situation, Lady Macbeth is trying to convince her husband using every method possible while the other shows her talking about her darkest fears. The true Lady Macbeth, not the one behind her rough façade, is a complex character who is willing to commit murder for ambition but regrets having to do it and that regret drives her over the edge.