When Contrast Breathes in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's Character

Using contrasts as a promising dramatic tool, especially in the realm of characterization, is indeed a matchless, great artistry of William Shakespeare. The greatest playwright applied this dramatic device to portray the central character, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth.

There is no denying that placing two contrasting characters together and emphasizing the different traits of both these characters is not an easy task. However, Shakespeare did this with exceptional perfection while making the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth alive forever.

Let’s first discuss the contrast in Macbeth’s character:

Readers are aware that Macbeth is one of the few greatest creations of Shakespeare, dominated by a series of contrasts. These include contrasts between the characters. Even a sharp contrast is visible between evil and good. One big reason behind incarnating these contrasts is to help readers understand the true essence of the drama as a whole.

Now, Macbeth’s character in “The Tragedy of Macbeth” offers a number of unique Shakespearean traits and portrays a significant study in contrast. Macbeth’s courage and valor project a sturdy contrast to his moral cowardice, which is prominently visible through his personal fear of the moral superiority of Banquo. Readers can also witness the study in contrast between the Macbeth before the murder of the King Duncan and the Macbeth after the murder of the King Duncan.

The earlier or previous Macbeth emerges with a sensitive conscience and readers can see it in his sincere efforts to combat the prophecies’ temptation. However, all the sincere efforts ultimately appear futile, and Macbeth, with clear hesitation, thinks of murdering Duncan, who is at once his king as well as guest.

On the other hand, the later Macbeth appears to have a savage character and criminal mind that is devoid of any sign of earlier scruples. His moral thoughts and human courage are now replaced by wildness; even his cruelty knows no bounds. No dilemma is visible in his character when he orders Banquo’s assassination. With a brutal sense of savage frenzy, he even sends men to kill innocent children and the wife of Macduff.

There is no denying that readers feel pity for the earlier Macbeth, who is eager to lead a virtuous life. However, weakness in his character and reluctant submission to the brutal will of his wife bring hate and dislike to the readers’ minds. In other words, the later Macbeth acquires only contempt.

For centuries, readers and critics have considered Shakespeare, the greatest ever iconic pioneering playwright. And Macbeth is undeniably a great example that makes one thing very clear: why Shakespeare is gifted with that title. Most probably, Macbeth in the drama “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” for the first time, shows how two contrasting characters in one human being can be evident with striking sharp differences. Without hesitation, one can opine that the presence of completely opposing natures in a single person is rare, especially while portraying characters in a drama.

Let’s discuss the contrast in Lady Macbeth’s character:

Like husband, like wife. The character of Macbeth’s wife, i.e., Lady Macbeth, too, abounds in contrasts like the character of her husband. Analysing Lady Macbeth’s character in the play “The Tragedy of Macbeth” always uncovers surprising results. It is hard to find any similarity between her earlier self with bold resolution and the later depressed, anxiety-prone woman.

During her introductory part in the play, readers perceive Macbeth’s wife with an evident impression of possessing an iron will. She emerges as a confident human bestowed with robust determination. She appears confident and has an unscrupulous attitude to draw a fool-proof plan to murder King Duncan.

Shakespeare’s play shows that Macbeth is a comparatively weaker person. He initially doesn’t have the required courage to surrender to any wrongdoing. However, Macbeth has complete faith in his wife. As a result, he quietly surrenders to her will. In short, Lady Macbeth dominates his will.

However, the later part of the Shakespearean play depicts Lady Macbeth as a completely changed or transformed character. The rebellion of her feminine nature no longer provides her confidence or mental strength. Instead, it now diminished her courage and filled her mind with an acute sense of guilt and remorse. As a result, she no longer has the strength to dominate Macbeth. Instead, Macbeth now possesses the credence and dominates her.

Readers can witness how earlier she forced her conscience to remain dumb and deaf. She encouraged her husband and convinced him that only a small amount of water was enough to wash away the evidence of his misdeed. But, the rise of natural feminine abhorrence regarding the glimpse and smell of blood stain compels her conscience to wake up. She can now feel that water is not enough to clean her hands; even all the perfumes of Arabia can’t erase the blood smell from her hands.

In short, readers despise the earlier Lady Macbeth for her unscrupulous mentality. But they feel pity for the later transformed character. A clean contrast is visible in her character. In a word, Shakespeare portrays contrast with his signature touch so that readers can enjoy both the earlier and the later characters.