A Study Of Lady Macbeth's Tragedy From The Perspective Of Feminist Criticism Of Shakespeare

Shakespeare, the Swan of Avon, the unmatchable genius, the most dazzling star in the history of literature, whose work, generally acknowledged, "can accommodate a massive body of analysis, and the widest possible variety of critical approaches"(Gurr 387). Being one of the Four Tragedies, Macbeth is not an exception, excellent enough to stand the test of criticism from any perspective. By means of feminist criticism of Shakespeare and details in Macbeth as evidence, this thesis will try to demonstrate that Lady Macbeth is not an evil woman but patriarchal. What's more, her fate is a tragedy, which has general implications for women as a whole.The introduction first gives a brief view on Macbeth. Then it puts emphasis on the review of criticism for Lady Macbeth. As one of Shakespeare's most impressive female characters, Lady Macbeth has attracted numerous critics' attentions. However, Lady Macbeth had been regarded as the evilest and cruelest character for a long time. With women's liberation movement coming forth at the end of the 18^th century and reaching another peak in 1950s, especially with the inspiration of feminist Shakespeare's studies, critics' opinions on Lady Macbeth have been changing, but not completely. Lady Macbeth has not walked out of the shadow of evilness.Chapter One provides the theoretical frame including the history of feminist criticism of Shakespeare, its major topics and concepts, which will be applied to redefine Lady Macbeth's nature.In Chapter Two, emphasis is on the analysis of Lady Macbeth's personality, revealing that she is not evil, but uses evilness to cover inner weakness. Then the reasons for such abnormal deeds are expounded, that is her patriarchal ideology, which is shown in the following four factors: extreme worship for husband, unsexing for husband, deserting belief for husband and fear for the implied "father" who symbolizes authority in patriarchy. Lady Macbeth is not evil but patriarchal. Thus her fate is doomed to be a tragedy, which is the main content of Chapter Three. Through the analysis of Lady Macbeth's identity of the"Other" in a patriarchal society, her isolation from her husband and the absence of her relationship with the other women characters, this thesis tries to reveal the tragic features of her fate. What's more, the tragedy of her fate is also shown in her fruitless tries of searching self in a patriarchal world. In Lady Macbeth's madness, both the image of washing hands and the instinct of writing symbolize her rethinking of patriarchy and voiceless revolt. And suicide is the last but most furious revolt that she has taken.In Chapter Four, the universal implications of Lady Macbeth's tragedy are summarized. This chapter begins with discussion of women's living conditions in Shakespearean era from historical perspective and maintains that Shakespeare has given a genuine portrait of Lady Macbeth in patriarchal society. Then having traced the history of women's fighting against patriarchy, this chapter points out that the problems Lady Macbeth has faced as political powerlessness and complete pursuit after husband have been partly settled through Women's Liberation Movement. What's more, the particular case of Lady Macbeth also implies that women may write to find themselves and sisterhood should be cherished by women so as to strengthen themselves.In conclusion, major views are emphasized again. With feminist criticism of Shakespeare as theoretical basis, this thesis has tried to redefine Lady Macbeth's nature and demonstrated that Lady Macbeth is not a total Evil that finally leads to her husband's downfall, but a common woman, indulged in patriarchal ideology, doing everything for her husband's sake. In her tragedy, a patriarchal woman seeks hard, trying to surpass the barrier of patriarchy but nothing accomplished. And this has general implications to women in patriarchy.