I'm writing a paper on this topic and some help would be good. I think it's OCD... ANy suggestions?
2006-12-10 20:32:57 · 5 answers · asked by World of Suffering 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Haha, thats a good question. As I recall she's pretty obsessed with getting her hands clean at one point, but I wouldn't really call it OCD. Rather, she was merely deteriotating in the face of a guilty conscience, symbolized by hallucinations of blood on her hands. As the play progresses she displays more and more symptoms of a manic depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and paranoia, but its all due to the stressful situation she's in. At the start I'm not sure she's really mentally ill at all, but rather just a very ambitious woman that underestimates her own conscience.
2006-12-10 20:48:25 · answer #1 · answered by Geoffrey B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OCD is the popular diagnosis due to the constant handwashing following the murder of Duncan.
However, given her nature and her temperment, I would almost suggest a form of sociopathic illness. No guilt, no remorse; until eventually the feeling of "nothing" makes her insane (hence bringing on compulsive behaviours).
And I agree with the other comment about her father. There is a strong connection there. She demonizes being a woman (many times refering to ridding her self of child or breastmilk) - and yet her relationships with men suggest strong co-dependance.
Good luck. She's a fantastic character.
2006-12-12 12:22:38 · answer #2 · answered by BigM 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OCD is pretty good; she certainly has that hand-washing thing going on.
However, I think it's limiting to think of her character in terms of a specific mental illness. After all, it's something she only manifests much later in the play. I think it would be much more useful for your purposes to TRACK her progress through the play, and to note the incidents that mark her gradual descent into madness.
In other words, what are the conditions that TRIGGER her mental instability. Clearly, she lives with an enormous amount of GUILT after the murder of King Duncan. But, I think the greater issue for Lady M. is the fact that, in the aftermath of the murder, her husband starts to isolate her, forcing her to deal with that terrible guilt all by herself.
2006-12-11 10:53:07 · answer #3 · answered by shkspr 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Something else which may reflect on Lady M's guilt is her line immediately after the murder to the effect that had Duncan not looked so much like her father she'd have done it herself.
Curious.
2006-12-11 11:02:13 · answer #4 · answered by Steve C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called a guilty conscience.
Perhaps a form of post traumatic stress disorder.
2006-12-11 04:43:15 · answer #5 · answered by negrito con sabor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋