Lady Macbeth Character Sketch

   In the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth is portrayed as an arrogant, self-indulged wife. In act one, scene five Lady Macbeth is first introduced to the audience, you see her reading a letter from her husband that had been sent to her. Macbeth informs his wife of the witch’s prophecy and the new title of Thane of Cawdor. Upon hearing the news she gets immediately thrilled by the idea of being royalty and thrilled by the idea of being in becoming so. Due to her arrogance she believes that she could kill the king and not get caught. This scene clearly shows the degree of her arrogance and the starting point in her character arc.

   You see Lady Macbeth’s character begin to take another step in act five, scene one when her sleepwalking begins. During her sleepwalking episodes she confess’s to the murder and constantly scrubs her hands in attempt to wash away the murder. This is showing her arrogant attitude is giving way, and she is being brought back to reality that is life.

    Lady Macbeth’s transformation is complete in act five, scene five when she is completely brought back to reality and her illusions of strength have crumbled. She finally understands the consequences of going against nature and cannot handle it. Macbeth hears a woman’s scream, the is Lady Macbeth ending her life.