Lady Macbeth may be considered a modern female role model as her character conforms to the abnormal attitudes of a typical Elizabethan woman. Nevertheless, she also presents attitudes of typical behavior accepted of women during the period. Firstly, let’s discuss how Lady Macbeth is not a modern female role model. It can be acknowledged that Lady Macbeth never really possesses legitimate power of her own. Though it is evident that she does make some decisions on her own and also produces some individual ideas, these are influenced by other characters. For example, the idea of Macbeth becoming King elevates her to persuade him to kill Duncan. What cannot you and I perform upon th’unguarded Duncan?” somewhat persuades Macbeth to carry out the plan through Lady Macbeth’s use of manipulation. In addition, she also includes herself in the plan, so she does not make Macbeth feel isolated in the plan.
As a result, Lady Macbeth does not make any complete decisions solely, besides her own suicide, which could be argued was influenced by Macbeth. This is because Lady Macbeth seems to lose control of her dominant persona after Banquo’s death, which eventually causes her to end her own life due to her insane state. Therefore, it illustrates Lady Macbeth’s ability to lose control, which would not be a positive characteristic of a modern female. Another aspect of Lady Macbeth’s personality that may be deemed inappropriate for a modern role model is how she makes decisions behind Macbeth’s back and without asking for his accurate and thought-out decision in the murder of Duncan. “Unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull” not only connotes Lady Macbeth’s craving desire for monarchy but also puts forth her ambition for power. “Fill me from the crown” may convey her ability to make decisions without Macbeth’s consent and discussion.
This more ill-behaved and selfish side of Lady Macbeth sheds light on how she has no feelings for others. Killing Duncan will lead her husband to become king, which will essentially make her queen. Conversely, Lady Macbeth’s yearning for authority shows her eliminating anything that comes between her and control. “Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out” indicates that she would kill her own child in order for Macbeth to become king. As a result, it may be considered that if Macbeth were to have died during his reign, Lady Macbeth would become the female monarch due to having no heir. Contextually, this links to Queen Elizabeth, or “the virgin queen,” as her chastity is what made her be considered as Gloriana. Therefore, Lady Macbeth may aspire to be monarch, similar to Elizabeth, as she only became queen because her sister, Mary, did not have an heir to the throne.
