Shakespeare Appropriation for Art and Authority (1/26/17)

My knowledge of Shakespeare's work is fairly limited, but I was able to study Macbeth in high school and really enjoyed it.

In Act 2, Scene 2, Macbeth murders King Duncan in order to become king himself. Following the murder, Macbeth essentially has a mental breakdown and reports to his wife, Lady Macbeth, that he'd heard voices in the hall where he killed Duncan. Without a hint of guilt, Lady Macbeth urged her husband to hand over the daggers he used to kill Duncan and to go wash his hands of the blood.

This moment is significant because Lady Macbeth exudes much of the masculine and dominant character that other men in play exhibit. The appropriation I found most appealing is Lady Macbeth Seizing the Daggers by Henry Fuseli (link below). The painting portrays the suspenseful and supernatural tone of the murder, as well as the clear dominance of Lady Macbeth in the scene.

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/research-publications/the-sublime/henry-fuseli-lady-macbeth-seizing-the-daggers-r1105557