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A Study of Lady Macbeth’s Tragedy from the Perspective of Feminist Criticism
CEN Yue-yin
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DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2024.10.010
School of Translation Studies, Shandong University, Weihai, China
Macbeth is one of the four great tragedies penned by English playwright, William Shakespeare. Lady Macbeth, the primary tragic female character in the play, seems to be different from other typical female roles portrayed by Shakespeare, and is often characterized by the world as vicious and ambitious. Being in a patriarchal society, Lady Macbeth awakens to female self-awareness and lust for power. She silently rebels against the oppression and constraints imposed by the society, ultimately paying the price of her life. By analyzing the process of Lady Macbeth’s subversion of the identity of the Other from the perspective of feminist criticism, this article offers a new interpretation of Lady Macbeth’s image and delves into the underlying causes of her tragedy. It suggests that it is often difficult for women to break free from the oppressive shackles of a patriarchal society in their pursuit for equality, freedom and power. The path to women’s liberation is long and arduous, which still requires unwavering efforts and perseverance from all.
Lady Macbeth, tragedy, feminist criticism, the Other, Macbeth, Shakespeare
Journal of Literature and Art Studies, October 2024, Vol. 14, No. 10, 885-891
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