Level 5 Essay Analysis
This section examines a Level 5 essay on Lady Macbeth's character in Shakespeare's Macbeth. The essay demonstrates a more sophisticated analysis compared to the Level 4 example, incorporating deeper insights into character motivation, historical context, and literary techniques.
The student begins by characterizing Lady Macbeth as forceful and bullying, particularly in Act 1, Scene 7. They trace her ambition back to Act 1, Scene 5, where she receives Macbeth's letter.
Quote: "Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under't"
This quote is analyzed as Lady Macbeth's instruction to Macbeth, revealing her manipulative nature and desire for power.
The essay contextualizes Lady Macbeth's behavior within 17th-century societal norms:
Context: In the seventeenth century, it was a patriarchal society where men were shown as dominant towards females.
The student notes how Lady Macbeth's actions and desires challenge these norms, referencing her plea to be "unsexed."
Quote: "Unsex me here"
This analysis demonstrates a strong understanding of how Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth's character to subvert gender expectations of the time.
The essay continues to explore Lady Macbeth's manipulation of Macbeth, focusing on her questioning of his masculinity:
Quote: "To be more than what you were, you would be so much more of a man"
The student interprets this as Lady Macbeth's attempt to overcome Macbeth's loyalty to King Duncan.
Vocabulary: Divine Right of Kings - The belief that a monarch's right to rule comes directly from God.
The essay demonstrates knowledge of historical context by referencing the concept of the Divine Right of Kings, showing how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's actions would have been perceived as sacrilegious in their time.
