Lady Macbeth

She is ambitious with an unquenchable thirst for achievement and hierarchy. She begins as being invincible and slyly successful but ends up being reduced to an unconfident, depressed person that acts in a psychotic manner. She tries to give the impression that she is brave and unaffected after the slayings of Duncan and Banquo, but as the play goes on, the more we see Lady Macbeth crumble and grow mentally weaker.

Her attitude towards other people, apart from Macbeth leads them to believe that she is a reserved and well mannered woman who will stick by her noble partner, no matter what. However, towards Macbeth her attitude indicates that she is hungry for success and will do anything for Macbeth to secure the crown.

She can easily fool other people into thinking that among other things; she is fragile and should be treated with care. This is exhibited when she faints during a scene in which Macbeth is doing a little too much talking about the murder of Duncan.

"Come you spirits that tend on my mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from crown to toe full of direst cruelty; make thick my blood, stop the access and passage to remorse......The affect and it. Come to my woman's breasts and take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers" (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 39-47)

This is a soliloquy that is typical of Lady Macbeth. She indicates that she is willing to transform herself into a success driven being that is gifted with persuasive powers that will ultimately lead to Macbeth's crowning. She does this by "Filling herself from crown to toe top full of direst cruelty". This really summarises how her ambitions took over her, because to exchange her breast milk for gall would mean to poison her children if she were to have any, and this is secretly one of her dreams.