Literature
Was Lady Macbeth Truly Jealous in Macbeth?
Was Lady Macbeth Truly Jealous in Macbeth?
The character of Lady Macbeth in Shakespearersquo;s tragedy, Macbeth, is often portrayed as a woman driven by jealousy and ambition. However, does the evidence truly support the notion that Lady Macbeth was obsessed with King Duncan? This essay will explore the character's motivations, the context of the play, and the implications of her actions to determine if her supposed jealousy is a myth or a fact.
Context and Background
Macbeth is a play that delves into themes of ambition, power, and the consequences of unchecked desires. The character of Macbeth is introduced as a brave soldier who is quickly elevated to the position of Thane of Cawdor. The witches predict that he will become king, influencing both his and his wifersquo;s actions and motivations.
Was Lady Macbeth Truly Jealous of King Duncan?
Shakespeare provides several instances that seem to support the idea of Lady Macbeth's jealousy. In the play, she mentions her sleepwalking and uttering Duncan's name, suggesting that she is preoccupied with thoughts of the king:
Comes the horrid image of the dead man,
She emphatically states:
His face did lour; I drew aside the curtains… and plucked down the curtains that at my window hung, yet, till my warriors come home, cold, not to speak of him. I felt immediately that in this instant, the deed should be done. I thought, ‘No, it would be better if Banquo were dead, and not only Banquo, but no one could stop Macbeth from becoming king’.
However, analyzing the significance of these lines, one can argue that Lady Macbeth is not speaking about King Duncan but rather the guilt and remorse that arise from the murder she has committed with Macbeth. The mention of sleepwalking and speaking in her sleep might be a manifestation of her conscious struggle with the ethical and moral implications of her actions rather than a reflection of an obsession with King Duncan.
The True Motivations of Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth's primary motivation appears to be her ambition for her husband to become king. This is evident from her dialogue with Macbeth, where she questions his resolve to take the throne:
Art thou too wronged to speak this? And when thouovereere on Latmoor with me thoulidst strike great Hecate’s12 eve, yet with all this, thy natural discomfort13 forestalls thee.
Your father lives; and yourqueenship is the dower of age; If it were doable, thouwouldst lose the name of father; and that thouwouldest lose the name of king.
Here, Lady Macbeth is not merely expressing jealousy over King Duncan but is questioning Macbeth's courage and ambition. Encouraging him to usurp the throne, she states:
Commend the mirrored flatterer to my heart
These statements suggest that her true jealousy pertains to what she perceives as Macbeth's weakness and failure to act on his ambition.
Symbolism and Guilt
The emphasis on Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking and the mention of King Duncan may also be a manifestation of her guilt over their murder. Guilt and moral conflict are common themes in Shakespeare’s works. Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking could be seen as her subconscious grappling with the moral implications of their actions.
Conclusion
While the play of Macbeth presents Lady Macbeth as a complex character driven by ambition and often portrayed as jealous, the extent of her obsession with King Duncan is questionable. Her preoccupation with the latter likely stems from guilt and moral hesitation rather than a true love or jealousy towards Duncan. Essentially, her motivations align more closely with her aspirations for her husband to succeed, as opposed to an irrational obsession with King Duncan.
In conclusion, the suggestion that Lady Macbeth was obsessed with King Duncan misinterprets the nuanced and multifaceted portrayal of the character. Her true motives and actions suggest a focus on her own ambitions and the challenges of these ambitions rather than a baseless jealousy towards King Duncan.