In the infamous tragedy Macbeth, Lady Macbeth played an important role in her husband’s fall from grace. She repeatedly goads him into killing others and prizes her ambition and lust for power over everything else, including her own sanity. She is a manifestation of the darkness of femininity, which has, unsurprisingly, labeled her as a witch. Even so, how did she impact literature?

At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth decides to help her husband ascend to the throne by poisoning the first king. When her husband tries to argue with her, she reminds him he was the one who brought up the prophecy, that he was to rule Scotland. After a persuasive discussion, she manages to convince him to commit murder. And so, Lady Macbeth poisons the king and gives her husband the opportunity to murder him. But once they commit this murder, Lady Macbeth’s role is lessened, as her husband begins carrying out other killings. She’s important again in the last parts of the play, where she kills herself out of grief for her own actions.

One of the most important scenes throughout Macbeth is when Lady Macbeth sleepwalks. The scene was used to emphasize Lady Macbeth’s descent into madness, as she attempts to cope with her guilt. In the scene, Lady Macbeth is carrying a candlestick and wandering about when she meets a doctor and a gentlewoman. Lady Macbeth talks to them about the death of King Duncan, among others. The doctor then tells her that she suffers from a guilt-stricken mind and that she needs supernatural help, not medical help. During this scene, Lady Macbeth was shown to rub her hands in a handwashing motion, which symbolized her trying to wash away the blood of her victim, King Duncan.

What’s more, Lady Macbeth represents traits that aren’t usually associated with womanhood, specifically when it comes to motherhood. She casually discusses killing a child in the play, which harkens back to an age-old belief that mothers were the cause of infant deaths. Many critics state that Lady Macbeth embodies more than just the opposite example of motherhood; that of a witch. There are similarities between Lady Macbeth and the witches in that they were able to use spiritual powers and use their own abilities in a way that could change the future. Both parties refuse to conform to society, and both challenge the current ruling system and try to bend it to fit their own needs.

Lady Macbeth has left a rather powerful impact on modern culture. Hilary Clinton has been called “The Lady Macbeth of Little Rock” by Daniel Wattenberg. The Simpsons have referenced Lady Macbeth in that the character is portraying her attempts to push the protagonist for more. It’s gotten to the point where Lady Macbeth is regarded as a writer’s trope, especially for a woman who manipulates her partner.

Lady Macbeth continues to fascinate us with her ambition, her bloodlust, and her insanity. She suffered from remorse, like a dark, morbid witch from a fairy tale gone awry. Even so, she somehow still shows what it means to be human. She remains one of literature’s most fascinating characters, even to this day.