It was Lady Macbeth who had planned King Duncan’s murder and the framing of the guards because Macbeth was too worried about the consequences. However, the greed for power corrupted and changed Macbeth. “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.” (Act 3: II, line 50-51) Macbeth consoled Lady Macbeth about the necessity of the terrible things planned. The desire for power drove Macbeth to planning a second murder so he could feel secure. “I am in blood stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er.” (Act 3: IV, line 167-169) After committing the murders of Duncan and Banquo, Macbeth had decided that he had already gone so far to get
However, because Lady Macbeth has ambition beyond her status, she wants him to become King as soon as possible. The only problem for Lady Macbeth is she feels Macbeth is too nice to kill Duncan. She says “it is too full o’ the milk of human kindness”, which shows Lady Macbeth thinks of her husband as a coward. The soliloquy used by Shakespeare truly shows the disturbed mind of Lady Macbeth; creating an unsettling affect on the audience through his representation of her as a scheming and dangerous character. The use of imagery reveals that witchcraft was a fascination of Elizabethan England.
Then she insults his masculinity and questions his courage. Her talent for persuasiveness and deception starts a chain of destructive events and she definitely contributed to the conversion of Macbeth from well respected soldier to a repugnant, bloody tyrant. Lady Macbeth is undoubtedly a woman “of direst cruelty” and had largely a negative impact on Macbeth. At the start of the play Macbeth had the potential for greatness but because of Lady Macbeth influence this potential remained unfulfilled. If he continued on the ethical path he was on he very well may have rose in rank importance without his stir.
Many may argue that this title given to Macbeth seems very harsh and many may use examples such as in Act 1, scene 4 for justification of his feelings of trepidation.” The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, for in my way it lies. Stars hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” In Act 2, scene 1 the vile deed is done. Macbeth and His Lady have completed the deed but Macbeth has already been affected by the vicious deed that
That is a step on which I must fall down, or else oerleap for in my way it lies. Stars hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires.” When Lady Macbeth receives the letter from her husband about the witches prediction she also realises that Duncan must killed. She thinks that Macbeth deserves to be great but also believes he is too noble to do such a thing. “Yet do I fear thy nature It is too full othe milk of human-kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.” This shows that Lady Macbeth simply brings out the murderous butcher within Macbeth which was always subconsciously there with his ambition for glory.
“Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out”. This takes her femininity away and portrays her as a cold-hearted character who is not only willing to commit murder, but also able to persuade her husband into going against what he believes in. As well as this, the violent imagery in this quote is very shocking and gives a gothic element to Act One Scene Seven. It also shows us how quickly Lady Macbeth
If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings”. (Iiii 143-151) This is where the witches premonitions start to get into his mind about becoming king and get him to think about killing the king. Lady Macbeth was the second and strongest push against Macbeth.
In Act 1 Scene 7 Macbeth says, “I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’other” In this soliloquy, Macbeth admits that his only reason for committing murder is ambition. The ambition presented him with negative characteristics such as greed, intolerance, ruthlessness and an unhealthy drive for power. In addition, it blocked out his respect for others and his compassion. Earlier in his soliloquy, Macbeth also uses foreshadowing as he declares, “Bloody instructions which, being taught, return To plague th’inventor” Here, Macbeth explained his deeds will eventually come back to haunt him. Earlier in the soliloquy ,he uses dark imagery, in phrases such as “Deep damnation” a “Poisoned Chalice” and “Bloody Instructions”.
Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and frightening female characters. When we first see her, she is already plotting Duncan’s murder, and she is stronger, more ruthless, domineering, and more ambitious than her husband. She seems fully aware of this and knows that she will have to push Macbeth into committing murder. At one point, she wishes that she were not a woman so that she could do it herself, as when she hears of Macbeths plan to kill Duncan she doubts his courage, ‘I fear thy nature: it is to full o’ milk of kindness’, this implying the negativity of their relationship. Her determination demonstrates her lack of appreciation for the ‘Divine right of kings’ which defines her role as a woman, as she subverts this stereotypical role through language, ‘unsex me here’.
Those endowed with it may perform very good or bad acts; all depends on the principles which direct them.” In reference to the aforementioned quote Lady Macbeth’s principles are cemented by evil that necessitates her manipulative misdemeanor in the play. We first find out about Lady Macbeths intention to become queen when Macbeth her husband sends her a letter describing his encounter with three witches that prophesied he would become King. In response, Lady Macbeth believes the prophecies will come true, but she fears that Macbeth lacks the rigor and tenacity to lie, cheat and deceit his way to become king for Macbeth was not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds. Though he was a brave general and a powerful lord Lady Macbeth was far from subordinate to Macbeths will. Unlike Macbeth she understood that to achieve something you have never done before you must become someone you have never been.