How is Lady Macbeth presented in Shakespeare's Macbeth?

Whilst Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' may indicate that it is Macbeth himself that is the central protagonist, Lady Macbeth is instead the one who captures the audience's attention. This is because Lady Macbeth defies the conventions of her time; outspoken and incredibly influential, Lady Macbeth challenges the conventions of what it means to be a 'Shakespearian woman'. Indeed, this is most explicitly encapsulated in her demand to the gods, "unsex me here", insinuating that her gender would preclude her from committing the devious and harsh actions that she had in mind.

TA
Answered by Tania A. English tutor

5145 Views

See similar English GCSE tutors

Related English GCSE answers

All answers ▸

"Explore the ways in which a sense of place is presented in 'Songs of Experience: London' by William Blake


GCSE To Kill A Mockingbird Question - Who are the mockingbird figures in the novel and what is their significance to the novel as a whole?


Whats a useful tool for analysing the speaker of a text?


Analyse the relationship between Romeo and Mercutio in the following passage. (Act 3, Scene 1)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning