by Lisa M. Hase

Created on: July 28, 2008

The Paradigm of Extremes:The Role of Women in Shakespeare's Plays

The paradigm implied by Jean de la Bruyere's quote, that "women run to extremes," manifests in the two near-opposite characters of Hermione, from the romance of "The Winter's Tale," and Lady Macbeth from the tragedy of "Macbeth," wherein the first is martyred for the unfair treatment she was subjected to and the latter is a catalyst for the unfair treatment of others. To discover how they, as Bruyere's quote asserts, "are either better or worse than men" requires further study.

In the play "Macbeth," Lady Macbeth is considered nearly sinister in comparison with her husband, Macbeth, a perception that is supported by such assertions as "How tender tis to love the babe that milks me;/ I would, while it was smiling in my face/ Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums/ and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you/ have to do this" from the lips of her character.

In contrast to Lady Macbeth's hard insistence that Macbeth pursue whatever means necessary to achieve power is Macbeth's self-doubting statement of "each corporal agent to this terrible feat./ Away and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know" as he is considering the grave deed he and Lady Macbeth have connived to commit, indicating his awareness of the negative consequences he is likely suffer, even if unspecific.

Just as the actions of characters illustrate motives better than any soliloquy, so do the actions of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth sustain the words that they speak. In keeping with the boldness of her character, it is Lady Macbeth who encourages the disregard of civil protocol in the treatment of her guests, and it is she that drugs those guests. Further, had Duncan not so resembled Lady Macbeth's father, she, of her own confession would have performed the assassination herself. In contrast to these actions are those of Macbeth who cannot utter the word "Amen" to close in a prayer, nor is he able to plant the daggers he carried away from the murder he committed once he had left the room of his victims. Indeed, it is Lady Macbeth who plants the daggers after chastising Macbeth with "Infirm of purpose!/ Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead/ are but as pictures." (2.2, 58-60)

Critics, such as Sarah Siddon, have expressed pardon of Lady Macbeth's words and behavior by emphasizing that it is ambition that drives Lady Macbeth. Siddons believes Lady Macbeth's mention of a nursing

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