Macbeth and the laboratory
Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth and Browning’s lady in lab share common characteristics of insanity as well as great ambition. The essay will explore dilemma faced by Lady Macbeth and the cruelty expressed in “The Laboratory”. Shakespeare’s play, was written in 1848, and set in the 11th century. The play was presented to King James I of England, and portrays one of his ancestors, "Banquo". In contrast, “The Laboratory”, is set in pre-revolutionary France, portraying the main protagonist as a schizophrenic woman whom hallucinates over a mysterious unnamed man.
The essay will delve into mind of Victorian and Jacobean audience as well as looks at the views of a modern contemporary audience. At end of essay, I will provide my opinion as to whether I think Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth and Browning’s Lady in the lab are insane or just ambitious.
“The appalling invocation to the spirits of evil, to unsex her and fill her from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty, tells the same tale of determination to crush inward protest”. This is the opinion of Shakespearean expert, A.C Bradley.
The quote tells us that lady Macbeth need external forces to crush her conscience and allow her to fulfil her ambition. This can be interpreted as meaning, Lady Macbeth is afraid that her conscience and feminine qualities will prevent her from achieving her goal. When Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits to “unsex her”, this can be considered as a calling on the spirits to provide her with the strength to carry the burden of regicide. In Jacobean times regicide was considered the most horrific of crimes that one could commit. It was considered a mortal sin, a sin god could never forgive, and this would eventually lead to the mental breakdown of Lady Macbeth. However, the “determination” of Lady Macbeth can also be considered as symbolic of her ambition to succeed in her goal of making Macbeth King.
The sleep-walking scene is considered as the mental release of Lady Macbeth’s guilt. “If
The essay will delve into mind of Victorian and Jacobean audience as well as looks at the views of a modern contemporary audience. At end of essay, I will provide my opinion as to whether I think Shakespeare’s Lady Macbeth and Browning’s Lady in the lab are insane or just ambitious.
“The appalling invocation to the spirits of evil, to unsex her and fill her from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty, tells the same tale of determination to crush inward protest”. This is the opinion of Shakespearean expert, A.C Bradley.
The quote tells us that lady Macbeth need external forces to crush her conscience and allow her to fulfil her ambition. This can be interpreted as meaning, Lady Macbeth is afraid that her conscience and feminine qualities will prevent her from achieving her goal. When Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits to “unsex her”, this can be considered as a calling on the spirits to provide her with the strength to carry the burden of regicide. In Jacobean times regicide was considered the most horrific of crimes that one could commit. It was considered a mortal sin, a sin god could never forgive, and this would eventually lead to the mental breakdown of Lady Macbeth. However, the “determination” of Lady Macbeth can also be considered as symbolic of her ambition to succeed in her goal of making Macbeth King.
The sleep-walking scene is considered as the mental release of Lady Macbeth’s guilt. “If