“Of A Woman Born”

Lady Macbeth is often criticized for excessive ambition. Her aspirations become more comprehensible in a military world of rankism – prejudice based on rank – and in which a woman’s status is tied to her soldier’s position. Her condition also throws light on un(der)employment in military spouses and the relationship between un(der)employment and rankism, which can feed her personal ambition. This chapter argues Lady Macduff is necessary for the play to explore violence and war crimes, a question that haunts modern spouses. This text examines her role in Macduff’s arc, particularly in his contemplations on violent revenge and possible war crimes.