Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/50

Rh monstrous libel upon the sex. Regan and Goneril, whom we not only hate, but who excite disgust in our minds, might have been such women, coarse and low natures as they were ; and indeed they are represented as using their fists with a freedom proving the reliance they placed in the efficiency of that safety-valve to passion; and Lear threatens the wolfish visage of one with the nails of the other. But was Lady Macbeth such a being Did the fierce fire of her soul animate the epicene bulk of a virago Never ! Lady Macbeth was a lady beautiful and delicate, whose one vivid passion proves that her organization was instinct with nerve-force, unoppressed by weight of flesh. Probably she was small ; for it is the smaller sort of women whose emotional fire is the most fierce,

and she herself bears unconscious testimony to the fact that her hand was little. The drama contains many indications that, to outward appearance, she was gentle and feminine. Duncan greets her by the name of “most kind hostess;” and, after the murder, Macduff says: “Gentle lady, 'Tis not for you to hear what I can speak; The repetition in a woman's ear Would murder as it fell.”

Although she manifests no feeling towards Macbeth, beyond the regard which ambition makes her yield, it is clear that he entertains for her the personal love which a beautiful woman would excite. Returning from the wars, he greets her with “Dearest love (" “Dearest partner of my greatness " After wards he lavishes upon her the terms of endearment, “Love " “Dear wife I’’

“Dearest chuck 1"

“Sweet remembrancer "

Above all, she makes use of his love to taunt him with his

change of purpose, when it looked green and pale at the con templated murder of Duncan. “From this time,” she says, “such I account thy love.” She relies upon this threat of dis belief in his love as a goad to urge him to his first great crime; D”