How do Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff compare/contrast in William Shakespeare's Macbeth?

Ladyis a character we see very little of in
Shakespeare's . In fact, she only appears once, in the scene in Act IV in
which she is killed. Ladyis a much more important figure to the plot of the play and to its
.

is a powerful woman who has influence over her husband, a noble thane and
military leader, Macbeth. When he hears the prophecy that he will become king, he writes to his
wife immediately. He seeks her counsel and trusts her opinion. The two plot together to kill
Kingwhen he comes to stay at Macbeth's castle so that Macbeth can ascend to the throne as soon
as possible. Though Macbeth has some doubts along the way, he ends up going through with the
murder. His wife is the stronger character at this point in the play: she is the one who
convinces him to commit the crime when he tries to back out, and she is the one who goes back to
plant the daggers on the guards to frame them, since Macbeth is too nervous and horrified to
return to the scene. It is Lady Macbeth who has to cover for her husband when he thinks he sees
's ghost at the table during a feast at this castle to celebrate his coronation. Soon enough,
though, Macbeth takes total control, becomes increasingly ruthless and paranoid, and begins to
leave his wife out of his plans. She ends up going insane, sleepwalking, and trying to wash her
hands of a blood spot that symbolizes her guilt. She commits suicide near the end of the play,
and her death makes Macbeth soliloquize about how brief and meaningless life is.

, on the other hand, is more a victim than an active player in
Macbeth. She is seen conversing with her son and with another nobleman
about the sudden departure of her husband Macduff, who has gone to fight withto overthrow
Macbeth. She tries to explain to her son that she thinks Macduff is a traitor for going against
his king, thoughattempts to assure her that he has his reasons. Lady Macduff tells her son that
his father is dead (he is not) and dramatically asks what they will do without him. She seems to
be emotional and distraught, unlike the very much in-command Lady Macbeth, at least early in the
play.

As the earlier reviewer said, one similarity between the two women is
that they do critique certain actions or qualities of their husbands. Lady Macduff is upset
because Macduff has left the family and the castle unguarded; this turns out to be a legitimate
fear when everyone in the castle is murdered by Macbeth's henchmen. Lady Macbeth worries that
her husband does not have the viciousness required to kill The King and take his position. She
is partially correct, as well, since at the time of the murder, Macbeth is overwhelmed and
weaker than she is. Eventually though, Macbeth proves her wrong.