The Power Struggle in Shakespeares Macbeth Essay -- GCSE English Lite

The Power Struggle in Macbeth In Shakespeares Macbeth, the focus that is placed on the character of skirt Macbeth helps to convey the plays theme of the strife created by the struggle for power and control that is present throughout the entire work. Shakespeare presents her character in great detail and shows her to be a dominating, authoritative woman who thrives on the power she holds over her husband. He then shows the principle character, Macbeth, rise up and join his wife in a struggle for power of his own. It is the actions that Macbeth takes in attempt to achieve ultimate authority that lead to his downfall, and it is Lady Macbeths loss of control over her husband as he exonerates this independence which causes her own weakening and eventually leads to her demise as well. The struggle for power and control in Macbeth is present from the very beginning, as Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a ruthless, overpowering woman who dominates her husband and his actions. She makes Macbeths decisions for him without giving him any say in his own actions, and she orders her husband to do what she determines to be best for him. It is Lady Macbeth who contrives the formulate to kill King Duncan, because she knows that Macbeth would never commit much(prenominal) an act on his own without her prodding. She develops the plan and organizes the details while expecting Macbeth to merely follow her orders. This becomes evident when she says to him, tho look up clear,(1.5.70) and leave the rest to me(1.5.72). She intends to keep him under her control by making decisions for him and not allowing him to think for himself. Lady Macbeth is able to achieve such power over her husband by continually insulting his manliness and boasting her... ...e is an authoritative figure who thrives on her ability to rule her husbands life, and watching Macbeth gain independence at her expense eats her up inside and causes her to lose her sanity. She sees the tables of power being turn ed, and she begins to see herself in the position her husband formerly held, that of a weak, submissive individual. She can not allow herself to live her life that way, and, as it is explained in the last speech of the play, . . . Macbeths fiendlike queen,/Who, as tis thought, by self and violent hands/ Took off her life. . .(5.8.69-71). Lady Macbeth saw death as the only way she could escape a life of passiveness and weakness which she believed was inevitable once she preoccupied control of Macbeths actions. Works CitedShakespeare, William. Macbeth. The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Ed. David Bevington. New York Longman, 1997