# Lady Macbeth — Macbeth character guide

> Lady Macbeth in Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Lady Macbeth Alack, Lady Macbeth Nought, Lady Macbeth Who dares receive it other

**First appearance:** 0000-macbeth

## Snapshot

Macbeth's fierce, clear-eyed wife, who reads his letter and instantly resolves that the crown must be taken tonight, not waited for.

## Who they are

Where her husband hesitates, Lady Macbeth calculates, calling on spirits to unsex her and thicken her blood so no compunction can shake her purpose. She fears his nature is too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way, so she plans to pour her spirits in his ear and take the night's great business into her own dispatch. Her bond with Macbeth is a partnership of greatness that will be tested by every murder it demands.

## Relationships

### [Malcolm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/malcolm)

_rivalry_

Lady Macbeth is the wife of Malcolm's enemy and complicit in the murder of his father, making her his adversary.

### [Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/lord)

_rivalry_

Lady Macbeth is the queen of the usurper, while the Lord opposes her husband's rule, making them political enemies.

### [Malcolm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/malcolm)

_rivalry_

Lady Macbeth is the wife of Malcolm's enemy and complicit in the murder of his father, making her his adversary.

### [Malcolm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/malcolm)

_rivalry_

Lady Macbeth is the wife of Malcolm's enemy and complicit in the murder of his father, making her his adversary.

### [Lord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/lord)

_rivalry_

Lady Macbeth is the queen of the usurper, while the Lord opposes her husband's rule, making them political enemies.

## In the story

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v)

Reads Macbeth's letter, resolves to push him to murder, and invokes spirits to 'unsex' her and fill her with cruelty.

### [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-vi)

Greets Duncan with formal humility, masking her treacherous intentions.

### [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-i-scene-vii)

Ridicules Macbeth's hesitation and resolves to carry out the murder, demonstrating her ruthless ambition.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Bold and resolute, she drugs the grooms, takes charge of the daggers, and chides Macbeth for his fear.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

Faints after hearing the news of Duncan's murder, possibly feigning distress.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Lady Macbeth appears as queen, welcoming Banquo to the feast.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Lady Macbeth feels discontent despite achieving her desires, and urges Macbeth to appear cheerful. She is excluded from the details of the planned murder.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv)

Attempts to cover for Macbeth's strange behavior and urges him to act like a man.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Observed sleepwalking, obsessively washing her hands, and muttering about the murders of Duncan, Banquo, and Lady Macduff.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Mentioned as suffering from 'thick-coming fancies' that disturb her rest.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/chapters/act-v-scene-v)

Reported dead offstage; her death prompts Macbeth's famous soliloquy.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters/lady_macbeth
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/macbeth_se/characters