One of the main characters in "Macbeth," Lady Macbeth, is one of Shakespeare's most famous and frightening female characters. She breaks the stereotype of women being kind and softhearted. In the play, Lady Macbeth has two phases: great determination for killing Duncan and being unable to deal with the legacy of her crimes. In fact, she is less capable than her husband of withstanding the response of her immoral acts. The theme of the relationship between gender and power is the key to Lady Macbeth's character. Lady Macbeth is also a two-sided character. She consistently acts differently when she is with her husband than when she is alone.
             Lady Macbeth is a deeply ambitious woman who lusts for power and position. When we first see her, she is already planning Duncan's murder, and she is stronger, more ruthless, and more ambitious than her husband. She seems fully aware of this and knows that she will have to push Macbeth into committing murder and seize the crown. At one point, she wishes that she were not a woman so that she could do it herself. After the bloodshed begins, however, Lady Macbeth becomes a victim of guilt and madness to an even greater degree than her husband. Her conscience affects her to such an extent that she (apparently) eventually commits suicide.
             In the first act, Lady Macbeth entirely breaks the stereotype of women being kind and softhearted. She is far more savage and ambitious than her husband, yet she convinces Macbeth to commit the murders that will make them king and queen. Lady Macbeth might be a more vicious individual, but she is more afraid than Macbeth about killing Duncan. She never mentions herself committing the murder, and she always insists upon Macbeth executing the killing. She uses her husband's weakness to achieve her dreams. After Macbeth writes home telling of his murderous plans, Lady Macbeth begins talking to evil spirits.
             Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to kill Duncan, despite ...