Macbeth

Throughout history the role of women has changed drastically. Unlike their male counterparts, women were considered to be second class citizens until somewhat recently. A woman during who lived 1600s would be much different than a woman who lived during in 2000s. The average woman of the 1600s could not survive a day in the shoes of the modern women. Women today are not only expected to be mothers, wives, and caretakers, but also have to work and provide an income for their families. Most women are no longer the puppets of their husbands. They are ambitious and ruthless when they need to be, just like Lady Macbeth. In Shakespeare’s play the Tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare's portrayal of Lady Macbeth is that of a revolutionary women. This is because she does not fit the description of a women from that time. Lady Macbeth takes charge of her husband’s future because without her Macbeth would not have done what would have been necessary to become king. She works for what she wants, and would stop at nothing to achieve her goal. She urges her husband to kill Duncan so he is able to become king. She did what was the best interest of her family, similar to what many women in present time are forced to do. Though not as extreme as ordering one's death, certain mothers and wives in the current economic crisis have similarly tough decisions to make so that they can reap the benefits of their work.