As Prof. Little said in lecture, these tragedies do not belong to simply one character, or just to the character the title of the play takes. The Tragedy of Lady Macbeth – act 5 sc 1 – sleepwalking scene. 'So much blood' – this line underscores femininity (bc Duncan is old and he’s a man) – blood she can’t wash out of her hands underscored by gendered world – tragedy and disillusionment of lady MB herself. Her tragedy isn’t the murder/guilt, but instead guilt about Lady Macbeth and her own body (in her first speech, she vows to cast away her femininity, claiming it makes her weak and she will gain strength by being rid of it. She controls her sex drive and stops herself from having an orgasm to prove her strength.) She realizes the unsexed moment hasn’t worked, no one has that kind of power, what she thought she was doing hasn’t happened – the blood on her hand is female blood/blood of femininity. Discovers she is a woman – THIS is her tragedy. Only masculinity survives,there is no place for a woman and being female fails. No way to lay claim to supernatural realm/universalist authority – only a pharmakos or a pawn.
Ashley Smith - Aaron Gorelick
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