Lady Macbeth Rhetorical Analysis

The effect a woman has on a man doesn’t only produce a great love between man and his wife, but it also compels action. Sometime, that same effect can lead people to commit crazy actions––even crimes––and that is exactly what Lady Macbeth was able to successfully accomplish. The strategies Lady Macbeth uses stretch far beyond the inspiration provided between lovers, manipulates Macbeth’s ideas and thought processes, and ultimately brings Macbeth follow through in his plan to kill Duncan.

First contemplating to attempt the murder of his King Duncan, Macbath begins to question his actions, saying, “He’s here in double trust:/ First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,/ Strong both against the deed; then, as his host,/ Who should against his

murderer shut the door, / Not bear the knife myself” (12-16). He keeps in mind the “consequence and catch” that may come with the king’s death–––consequences that may bring him punishment, “[his] poisoned chalice/ To [his] own lips”––karma, and violent crime in this world to come and bite him in the butt (3, 11-12). Macbeth’s questioning became a barrier to his ambition and desire to become king, and Lady Macbeth seeks to change him.
To counter Macbeth’s hardship with ambition, Lady Macbeth enters to persuade him to reach his desires.

Macbeth says, “We will proceed no further in this business,” regarding his king who had honored him and his own reputation. Instead of telling him what to do in a forward manner, Lady Macbeth lures Macbeth toward murdering the king by prompting his mind to think about what his actions make of him: cowardly or courageous. Through manipulative, intriguing words, Lady Macbeth is able to make Macbeth question his own manhood and their love with rhetorical questions: “From this time/ Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valor/ As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that/ Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life,/ And live a coward in thine own esteem” (38-43). She questions their love and and asks what “made [him] break [this] enterprise to [her]”––their promise to get Macbeth’s throne as quickly as possible (55). Continuously asking Macbeth questions, Lady Macbeth wins Macbeth over and causes him to prove his manlihood and courage to follow through with murdering the king. Successfully, Lady Macbeth is able to persuade Macbeth, bring him to a decision, and inspire him with her fearlessness and “undaunted mettle” to “compose nothing but males” (73-74). Lady Macbeth’s driven yet destructive nature encouraged Macbeth’s By attacking Macbeth’s manhood, even to the point of saying that she was more or a man than he is, she convinces him

to prove himself. Her relentlessnes and determination to bring Macbeth to go through measures such as killing their king tells how ambitious Lady Macbeth is, as a person. She is resourceful with her words and her fearless nature has the ability to manipulate others to commit crimes she wouldn’t do.
Despite Lady Macbeth’s daunting manner towards Macbeth, it doesn’t seem as though Macbeth is completely convinced of Lady Macbeth’s arguments for killing Duncan. He simply is hiding his doubts to avoid appearing a coward in front of his wife. Even to the end of their conversation, just before his aggreance to kill the king, Macbeth questions himself once again, asking, “Will it not be received,/[...] That they have done ’t?” (74,77). Lady Macbeth reassures him, but without Lady Macbeth, he would not push through with the plans of assassinating King Duncan. This proves that his character is easily manipulated by prominent figures in his life and although he believes that he must do what’s right, his choice of actions could be easily swayed in order to preserve his dignity and self-image.
The love one has for another can be seen by their actions and willingness to do something for the other person, but in this case, Lady Macbeth’s manipulative actions with her husband seek villainous intent. Her manipulative words, devious plans, and ambitious attitude becomes inpiration to Macbeth to prove his manhood and courage. Without Lady Macbeth, Macbeth wouldn’t be driven enough to find reason in killing the king. Ultimately, because of Lady Macbeth’s persuasion and Macbeth’s cherished reputation as a man, Macmeth pushed through with his murderous plans to indicate his love and courage.