Comparing Lady Macbeth and Doris

Compare the ways a disturbed character is presented in Shakespeare's Macbeth and Alan Bennett's A cream cracker under the settee.

This essay will compare how a disturbed character is presented in the two plays , Shakespeare's 'macbeth' ( written in 1606 ) and Alan Bennett's 'A cream cracker under the settee' ( written in 1987). The two disturbed characters in the plays are Lady macbeth and Doris. I will be analysing how the two characters are disturbed and if there is any links between them. I think that they are both disturbed however I believe that Lady macbeth is more disturbed.

Interpretations and reflections when considering the positions of the women in society and how it affects them .

Lady macbeth :

Shakespeare presents lady macbeth as a very incongruous character and much more ambitious than her husband. "Shalt be what thou promised" shows that she is very ambitious and determined and she does show concern for her husbands ambition .She attempts to portray her gender as a male and destroy her femininity so that she can exude the strength needed for royal status. Lady macbeth is also interpreted as a very influential character as she decides how to kill Duncan trying to prove she is more of a man than her husband." Unsex me here , and fill me from the crown to the tow top-full of direst cruelty" suggests that she wants to be more cruel and bad and she wants to kill Duncan. Destroying her femininity also ensures that she does not feel any remorse from her actions and thoughts. Firstly she is interpreted as a very strong willed character wiling to "have pluck'd the nipple from his boneless gums, and dash'd the brains out" but quickly her strength falls and she is interpreted as possessed by her nightmares. In her society women have no rights so lady macbeth as to show her strength and live her ambitions through her husband , whilst lady macbeth is strong she is isolated from other women and she is not powerful enough alone .