In this passage from Macbeth (lines 45-60), Lady Macbeth has just read Macbeth's letter about the Weïrd Sisters' predictions for Macbeth about being Thane of Glamis & Cawdor AND King. Since Macbeth tells her that one of their predictions has already come true, Lady Macbeth is ecstatic. She wants Macbeth to be king more than anything at this point, which would allow her to become queen. However, she doesn't believe that Macbeth has the heart to go through with the plan that would have to take place in order for him to become king, which is to kill King Duncan. So, Lady Macbeth calls out to the evil spirits, asking them to turn her into a man so that she can be in charge and kill the king herself. "...unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood." (Line 48) She wants to break the natural order, a theme in the play, and take control (which is not what a woman should be doing.)
This part of scene 5 demonstrates in what way the play is a Greek tragedy. A Greek tragedy contains a Greek hero, who in this case would be Macbeth, who has everything he wants at the beginning of the story. At this point in time, Macbeth has saved his country and is crowned Thane of Cawdor. His ranking is going up, and up until he becomes a king. However, in all Greek tragedies, the hero always goes through a tragic period of time where all of his/her power is taken from him/her. Macbeth will experience this as well. Additionally, this part is an example of a Greek tragedy because every hero has a tragic flaw. Lady Macbeth tells the audience that Macbeth's tragic flaw is his mortal side taking over his hero side and that he is too kind-hearted to go through with their evil plot. Although he is hungry for power, like all Greek heroes, his mortal side tends to overpower his desire to kill the king to get his wish.
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