In act 1 scene 5, Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a powerful woman who feels trapped within society`s view of a female. In Shakespearian times, there were associated male and female traits with male traits associated with strength, aggression, and rationality. Female traits, on the other hand, were associated with beauty, tender thoughts, and sensitivity. Being a female herself, Lady Macbeth commands the ‘sprits’ to ‘unsex [her] here,’ so she can rid herself of her female traits so she can be more male and thus powerful enough to commit evil.