There is always someone pulling all the strings behind every evil plan. Lady Macbeth in the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Macbeth is a play written and taken place in the 16th century about a man, Macbeth, receiving a prophecy that he will become king. He receives this prophecy from witches and reacts to this prophecy with great thirst and ambition to become king. He lacks however in the ideas and strength to carry on the deeds required to fulfill the prophecy. Lady Macbeth is able to play a key role in the assassination of the current king by persuading Macbeth to eagerly join along. It is Lady Macbeth who pulls all the strings to go through with this evil plan of killing the king. She has a strong, persuading, and deceiving voice that make kings, Duncan and later Macbeth, bow down to it. The difference in power domination between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is most evidently seen through the characterization of both characters. The first person Macbeth goes to in his desire to take the throne is to his wife. He talks about the risks while Lady Macbeth talks about the desirable outcome. Throughout their conversation Macbeth becomes more scared and cautious of his plan and before closing the discussion closes Lady Macbeth remarks “Only look up clear, to alter favor ever is to fear, leave all the rest to me” (1.5.63-65). Macbeth proceeds to talk a soliloquy in which he says his position on the murder plan. He confesses his guiltiness for backstabbing his king and a guest in his house. He ends his soliloquy with “Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself, and falls on th’other” (1.7.26-29). He is only motivated by ambition but he knows it will lead to disaster. Lady Macbeth is fully aware of Macbeth’s ambition and proceeds to c... ... middle of paper ... ... Macbeth is weak and easily swayed as well as thirsty for power. Banquo isn’t easily manipulated by fate or by anyone because he thinks clearly and wisely. Macbeth’s mind has been blurred by his thirst and ambition and because of this he is easily manipulated by the witches and Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has the power to deceive and control kings. She shows this through her ability to lure King Duncan into her home’s traps very easily. She also demonstrates this by abusing Macbeth’s desire for power and having him engaged with the plan. Macbeth has too many weaknesses and opponents that he can’t handle. He fears King Duncan and the heir and has too much “human kindness” to execute such a plan. His happiness and fate were told and foreshadowed from the very start and he played right into the witches’ cards. Macbeth holds the titles, but Lady Macbeth holds the power.
Both Banquo and Macbeth are introduced as loyal captains in the king`s army, but as the play progresses, Macbeth is overcome with the desire of power due to his reception of the prophecies. Upon hearing, Banquo does not become greedy for power, but, alternatively, he is suspect and cautious begins wondering if “we [Macbeth and Banquo] eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?” (1.3). Realizing the witches were simply trying to make him ambitious, Banquo remains loyal to his king and his country, despite knowing that he will have a dynasty to rule Scotland. Despite having the motivation, Banquo does not commit treason against his king but rather wants to “keep my [his] bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear” (2.1), meaning that he has no desire to betray the king for personal gain. Conversely, upon hearing the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth becomes ambitious for power and follows them blindly. He is curious about the witches’ prophecies and demands they “stay… [and] tell me [him] more” (1.3). When he hears that the prophecy that his heirs will rule Scotland he will be king, Macbeth`s ambition is born and his thoughts instantly turn to murder, even though the witches had not mentioned murdering King Duncan which shows that Macbeth has previously thought about murdering his king. As a result, Macbeth has no loyalty to neither his king nor his country and commits treason. While both Banquo and Macbeth hear the witches` prophecies that promised power, only Macbeth conceded to their prophecy and became overcame with ambition. Macbeth is a direct antithesis to the honorable, dependent Banquo. He transforms into a greedy man who is obsessed with his
Lady Macbeth has a greater control on Macbeth’s actions than any other character in Macbeth apart from the Weïrd Sisters. She is well known for her persuading speeches to her husband, convincing him to fulfill the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth’s manly qualities, and informs him that only when he follows through with the murder that
A lot like Macbeth, the character Banquo was also a highly skilled soldier, and very much trusted by their king, even though Macbeth respects Banquo’s bravery he also fears his wisdom. While Macbeth is quick to action and has little to no time for thought Banquo chooses not to turn his thoughts into action, Banquo is however a lot more cautious as shown when he and Macbeth met the three witches. Banquo actually considers the reasons for what the witches are offering and later realizes they are telling him his future and thinks that the witches are attempting to make him greedy for power. Macbeth however reacts oppositely. Banquo actually considers the reasons for what the witches are offering and rather than thinking about the outcomes of his
Secondly Lady Macbeth shows more ambition then Macbeth does in terms of gaining power regarding kingship. When Macbeth does not want to murder Duncan anymore, for he recognizes that he is a kind man, good king and thinks Duncan should remain the king. Lady Macbeth however shows more ambition for power, becomes very upset upon learning how Macbeth feels how he doesn’t want to kill King Duncan anymore, she says “And Live a coward in thine own esteem” (1.7.46) meaning she’s calling him a coward for not wanting to kill Duncan and thereby gaining power. She convinces him to change his mind to want the power of kingship now, which can only be achieved by killing Duncan.
Lady Macbeth is a dominant character as soon as she is introduced into the play. A.C. Bradley wrote about her as “…the most commanding and perhaps the most awe-inspiring figure that Shakespeare drew” from his article titled Lecture X. She became a image known for her ambitious nature. Her thirst for power and disregard for life was shocking to the audience, as to her own husband. The moment she learns of the prophecies, she decides to stand behind Macbeth and see him to the throne. She is immediately set on her quest for more power. As it reads “Glamis thou art, and Cowador, and shalt be/ What thou art promised (1.5.13-14) This moment is crucial because it is the turning point where Lady Macbeth decides that she might have to kill to fulfill her quest for royalty. Macbeth is doubtful about their plan to kill King Duncan; however, she bombards him with comments that question his courage. She goes as far as telling him his love his worth nothing if he refuses, which proves her to be dominant and controlling using his own weakness against him. His love for her. The fact that she belittles his confidence, insults his abilities, and questions his manhood is so manipulative, but also wise because it worked in her favor. She said to him “Screw your courage to the sticking place” (1.7.60). She was confident that her ridicule could gain her control over her husband. There is no doubt that she manipulates her close relationship to Macbeth to get them both the power they covet.
Lady Macbeth did not think he had what it took to become king, "Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o' the milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way" (1.5.16-18). Her reaction to the leader show she knows her husband very well. The “nearest way” for both of them is murder. In an earlier scene, Macbeth had commented, "If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, / Without my stir" (1.3.143-144), but later he assumes that he must murder in order to become king. And this has always been his wife's assumption, which later he beings to follow. Macbeth never senses how much power Lady Macbeth has and how much he influences his political decisions. It is as if he is a robot and she is controlling him. He listenes to almost everything she tells him throughout the play and never second guesses
Lady Macbeth takes the role of the dominant partner in the beginning of the play, by acting as the real power behind the throne. For example, it is easily recognized that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are opposite in many ways (Scott 236). He is weak, indecisive, and takes on the traditional female role of the marriage; she is strong, decisive, and takes on the traditional male role. One place in the play where Macbeth’s character is shown is Act I, Scene 5, Lines 15-17. She says, “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be / What thou art promis’d : yet do I fear thy nature / Is too full o’ the milk of human kindness.” This is just after Lady Macbeth receives the letter from Macbeth. It is also important to notice that when Macbeth’s first thoughts of killing Duncan appear, he is scared. After he commits the murder, Macbeth says, “To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself ” ( 2. 2. 72 ). Knowing that he has committed such a vile act makes him uncomfortable. It will be difficult to act innocent and deal with his guilt.
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a trusted soldier, who is honest and noble. Unfortunately, he meets three witches who tell him three prophecies; that he will become thane of Cawdor, that he will become king and that Banquo’s sons will become kings. These three prophecies slowly change his opinions on life and turn him into a greedy, dishonest, tyrant, full of ambition. Lady Macbeth’s thoughts change as well when she is told about the three prophecies that were told to Macbeth. In the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is ambitious, controlling and domineering. She is the one who encourages him to kill the king, she not only encourages him, she makes all the plans herself, which shows her determination and persistence."Yet I do fear thy nature, it is too full o’th milk of human kindness. To catch the nearest way thou wouldst be great. Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it." (Act 1, scene 5). Lady Macbeth is the force behind Macbeth’s sudden ambition and she tries to manipulate him into feeling guilty and unmanly for not following through with the murder, by using her husbands emotions, she manages to convince Macbeth to murder Duncan.
When Macbeth becomes king he controls almost everyone, from servants to assassins. He even attempts to order the three witches to do his bidding. However, Macbeth’s actions and demeanor later in the play are the result of Lady Macbeth, who holds sway over her husband. It is she who at first coaxes and controls Macbeth, resulting in the change in his personality. The supernatural, in particular the three witches, exert control over both Macbeth and his lady. In fact, it is their influences that initiate the sequence of events, and are therefore an integral part of the play.
Firstly, he defeats his enemies. Next he is praised by the other soldiers and King Duncan appoints him as the Thane. For example, if a person desires for a manager title, the person will work hard to earn it, and it is possible that other workers will see this and boost the chief individual’s desire. It is from here that the person might think they deserve the title and look for more power. Similarly, Macbeth must have thought somewhere in his mind to be king. In the book Witches’ Caldron: a study of motive in Shakespeare’s Macbeth Dr. K.C. Mathur says that although the witches did prophesy he would be king and even boosted his desire “They did not create the thought of murder of King Duncan. It was Macbeth’s own latent ambition embodying his power drive and seeking affirmation that invites the witches.” (Witches Caldron, 6) Dr. Mathur also says “Macbeth had acquired this status and it is not surprising that he thinks of achieving higher status by being aggressive and domineering. It is this psychological impulse that is projected in his ambition for the crown and not any criminal instinct or latent evil.” (6) There was a negative environment of witches and the association of Lady Macbeth around Macbeth which influenced him to murder. The environment creates a huge part in the play and if he had a good environment it is possible that he would have remained loyal to King
When we are introduced to Lady Macbeth we see a beautiful woman who is reading a letter detailing her husbands latest success, but also the prophecy that Macbeth was given about him becoming King; and that would therefor make her the queen. While Macbeth does have thoughts of killing the king even asking himself, “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion” his moral compass is steering Macbeth away form such dark intentions. In contrast however Lady Macbeth is excited and even giddy, the king is coming to her home and she was just told that her husband could possibly be King. It’s a if the stars have allied for her.
Banquo is a character that accurately displays loyalty. He was loyal to the king which is seen in the battle that both Macbeth and himself were generals in. The loyalty he displayed to Macbeth never wavered up until his death. They were even together during the witches prophecies that progressively began to corrupt Macbeth. Referring back Act 1, Scene 1 where the three witches state, “Foul is fair, and fair is foul,” the witches have already stated the paradoxical nature of this play. An ideal example for this is how Banquo is the personification of loyalty and Macbeth is the personification for corruption. Banquo also serves as a character foil to Macbeth. Since the beginning of the play Macbeth was very ambitious while Banquo was contempt. Macbeth is the one who blindly trusts what the witches predict while Banquo does not take the steps to further his chances to raise the heirs to the throne. In a way Banquo is Macbeth’s only unsurety to the acts of tyranny and vileness he commits. He could even be called Macbeth’s conscious, this is what makes Banquo’s death so significant. The first small act of betrayal that Macbeth commits towards Banquo was towards the beginning when Duncan was staying at Macbeth’s castle. Banquo made it clear that he did not want to further the witches prophecies and betray the king. Macbeth however, does not listen to his friend and continues with his ambitious
In Shakespeare’s tragic play Macbeth, Shakespeare creates the ruthless character Macbeth, who is willing to go beyond any measure in order to attain the power of being king, including murder, deceit, betrayal and overpowering the chain of being. Macbeth was first tempted by the idea of kingship when three witches presented him with their portent of Macbeth becoming the next King of Scotland. Ebullient, Macbeth, immediately informed his wife of the news and they both pondered the thought of having the power to rule all of Scotland. Lady Macbeth, a power seeker herself, promptly schemed a plan to kill King Duncan in order for her and her husband to rule, displaying her ready ambition for power. Macbeth’s thirst for power ate away at his conscience
Lady Macbeth's desire for her husband to have power led her to plan Duncan's murder and to manipulate Macbeth into committing the murder. In Act 1 Scene 5 Lady Macbeth calls to evil spirits begging them to make her cruel and free of guilt so that she can do the task that is at hand, killing King Duncan. Many times throughout the plotting of Duncan's murder you see Lady Macbeth having the power in her relationship with her husband which was fairly uncommon at the time they lived. She constantly questions his manhood as a way to control him you can see this in Act 1, Scene 7 when Macbeth is starting to have second thoughts about the murder, “When you durst do it, then you were a man;And, to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more
The struggle for power and control in Macbeth is present from the very beginning, as Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a ruthless, overpowering woman who dominates her husband and his actions. She makes Macbeth's decisions for him without giving him any say in his own actions, and she orders her husband to do what she determines to be best for him. It is Lady Macbeth who contrives the plan to kill King Duncan, because she knows that Macbeth would never commit such an act on his own without her prodding. She develops the plan and organizes the details while expecting Macbeth to merely follow her orders. This becomes evident when she says to him, "Only look up clear,"(1.5.70) and "leave the rest to me"(1.5.72). She intends to keep him under her control by making decisions for him and not allowing him to think for himself.