Essay | The Role of Women in Macbeth

Women have played roles as men's slaves throughout the history of the world. However, this is not the case in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Women play a catalytic role throughout this tragedy. The women who play the most important roles in Macbeth are: Lady Macbeth; Lady Macduff; and the Three Witches and Hecate, the queen of the witches.

Lady Macbeth is one woman who does not act as her husband's subordinate throughout the play; rather she takes control of her husband's actions and thoughts. First, she persuades him to change his views of people in negative ways. Lady Macbeth insults her husband's manhood when she says, "When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And, to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man." (I. vii. 49-51). In other words, Lady...
(read more)