In Act 1 Scene 5 of Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” Lady Macbeth gets a letter from her husband outlining his encounter with the three witches and their prediction that he will rule as king. Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a strong-willed, ambitious, and cunning character who is determined to make the prophecy come true, regardless of the repercussions, in her response to the letter. But as the play goes on, Lady Macbeth’s personality drastically changes, which ultimately results in her tragic demise.

Lady Macbeth is introduced in the play as a strong and self-assured character. Act 1 Scene 5 of the play features her first appearance as she reads a letter from Macbeth outlining the witches’ prophecy. Lady Macbeth is immediately shown to be ambitious and determined to make the prophecy come true, saying “Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round” (Act 1, Scene 5).