Lady-Villain of MacbethWilliam Shakespeare's moving tragedy Macbeth features a protagonist who is not the usual type of woman, but rather a contradiction of the typical woman. Let us consider his character in this essay. In "Memoranda: Observations on the Character of Lady Macbeth", Sarah Siddons comments on the Lady's cold manner: [Macbeth] announces the King's approach; and she, however insensible she may seem to all the dangers he has met with in battle, and to all the happiness of his safe return to her,—for she offers not a kind word of greeting or congratulation,—is so entirely swallowed up by the horrible plan, which was probably suggested to her by his letters, so much so that she forgot both one and the other. It is indeed remarkable that Macbeth is frequent in expressions of tenderness towards his wife, while she never betrays a symptom of affection towards him, till, in the fiery furnace of affliction, his iron heart melts to softness. (56)Fanny Kemble in "Lady Macbeth" describes the character of Macbeth's wife:Lady Macbeth, even in her sleep, has no pangs of conscience; his remorse does not take on any of the more tender forms similar to repentance, nor the weaker ones related to fear, from the search for which the tortured soul, seeking where to hide, not infrequently flees into the boundless desert of madness. A very clever article, published some years ago in the National Review, on the character of Lady Macbeth, insists much on the opinion that she died of remorse, as a palliation of her crimes and the mitigation of our detestation towards them. That she died from malice would, I think, be a fairer verdict. Remorse is awareness of guilt. . . and this I believe Lady Macbeth never had; even if the unacknowledged pressure of her great guilt killed her. (116-17)Clark and Wright in their Introduction to The Complete Works of William Shakespeare portray the character of Lady Macbeth:Lady Macbeth is of a finer and more delicate nature. Having fixed her sights on the end - her husband's attainment of Duncan's crown - she accepts the inevitable means; he steels himself for terrible night work with artificial stimulants; however he cannot strike the sleeping king who resembles his father. Having supported the weaker husband, his strength fails; and in sleep, when the will cannot control her thoughts, she is pitifully afflicted by the memory of a bloodstain on her little hand..