The Habits Of Lady Macbeth By William Shakespeare's Macbeth

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There is always one person who wears the ‘pants’ in the relationship, but unbeknownst to many, it is often times a skirt. In the story Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth and his wife make several immoral decisions in hopes of fulfilling their prophecy to become royalty. They both struggle with the weighted guilt they carry around, but who is really to blame? Although Macbeth is the one physically committing the crimes, Lady Macbeth has total dominance over him as the brains, brawn, and the base of their plots and murders. This is not a secret, as she formulates the plans, uses intimidation to get what she wants, and is open about the fact that she would commit the crimes herself if she could. Macbeth may be a strong man but despite the …show more content…

In any discussion, she has the last word no matter what. Lady Macbeth leads him to do what she believes is best for them through intimidation and threats. One common question, Lady Macbeth inquisitively asks is “Are you a man?” (3.4.70). This is rhetorical, but causes Macbeth to question his manliness, inclining him to agree with their plans in order to prove himself. Using tactics such as this allow her to keep him on a string like a puppet to do whatever she pleases. An additional instance of intimidation includes Macbeth expressing his concerns of being caught, or as Lady Macbeth explains it;“ live a coward in thine own esteem”(1.7.48). Macbeth, again, being the imperious man he is, must defend his honor, causing him to lose his power and pass it over to Lady Macbeth. Furthermore, she compares herself to him and states that she will never break her promises, unlike him. She even goes as far to say “I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you”(1.7.64-66). As she compares herself to him, it is as if she is denying his manhood which would be extremely offensive in that time, despite the fact that, as shown in how Lady Macbeth dominates Macbeth, it should not be taken as an insult. Lady Macbeth understands how to manipulate Macbeth to do things he would not do on his own. She does …show more content…

The story may suggest that Lady Macbeth does not want to do any of the dirty work, but she only wishes she could. Lady Macbeth, as a powerful intellectual being, understands her limits and dare not push the barrier. She claims she is too much of a ‘woman’ to commit such a crime, but that is a metaphor of the time. She says this meaning she knows committing murder would scar her mentally. Moreover, Lady Macbeth, acting as though she is an innocent woman, claims “Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done

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