Women in Macbeth
Shakespeare was one of the most talented poets and playwrights of the 16th century. His plays are still performed on the stages of many theatres, and his quotes are well-known for every educated person. His works are inspired by the world he observed around him but the author managed to compose his plays about universal values, virtues and vices, such a love, friendship, betrayal and lie. In turn, “Macbeth” belongs to the most famous and mysterious plays among the Shakespeare’s works. There is even a legend among actors, that “Macbeth” is the worst play for performance because bad fate awaits everyone who takes part in it. Nevertheless, the work is widely staged and allows audience to enjoy the wisdom of the genius. The play starts from the depiction of three witches who get prepared to the Sabbath. Then the author shows the audience the military camp where Scottish King Duncan waits for his generals with good news. Both Macbeth and Banquo defeated the enemy armies. While riding to the king, the commanders meet the witches and they foreshow them the future: Macbeth is going to be a lord of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Banquo, in turn, will be the father of the Scottish Kings, but he will never be a king himself. Both generals do not take the prophecy close to their hearts but everything changes when the King grants the title to Macbeth as an appreciation of his victory.
In turn, the commander writes a letter to his wife, where shares all the details of his meeting with witches as well as the events happened after. Lady Macbeth is eager to become the Queen as soon as possible. When she sees her husband, he persuaded him to stab the King, which is done eventually. Duncan’s sons leave the country. However, Macbeth is afraid that his children will not inherit the crown and prepares an ambush for Banquo and his son Fleance. Banquo dies, but his son runs away. Macbeth finds the witches and they tell him that he should be afraid of Macduff, that Macbeth himself cannot be hurt by any man born of woman and that the threat will come when Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Castle. Meanwhile, Prince Malcolm, the son of Duncan gains Macduff’s support, and they start war against Macbeth. Lady Macbeth commits suicide as she cannot stand the blood the always sees on her hands because of the Duncan’s death. During the fight the army of Macduff and Malcolm use wood of Birnam for camouflage, and the first part of the last prophecy comes true. Later, Macduff is appeared to be born with the help of cesarean section. Thus, he is not born of woman, and he eventually kills Macbeth. The story itself is full of dramatic moments. Though there are not so many female characters, women play an important part in the development of the play. First of all, witches catalyze the plot of the story.
Their prophecy provokes Macbeth to act against the King and stab him while asleep. They also move the story forward with their second prediction, calming the main character down, which results in his losing of cautiousness and eventual death. The witches demonstrate the supernatural wisdom, which man lack of. Moreover, they seem to be careless of the men’s fate as they state above the human world. The role of Lady Macbeth is even more crucial. She is the one who persuades Macbeth to kill the King. Her role is the one of the most dramatic in the whole play. When understanding, that she might become the Queen, she feels how her heart is filled with ambitions. She asks to be “unsexed”, so she can act as a man, as women were considered to be an inferior gender. However, later she is unable to overcome the pangs on conscience and sees blood on her hands. Lady Macbeth feels that she bears the same guilt as her husband though she did not kill Duncan. Though the females were not much appreciated during the age of Shakespeare, the author manages to show that they have been always an important part of the society.