Shortcut In Macbeth

According to Dictionary.com a shortcut is a shorter alternative route. In life there are no shortcuts to get what you want. In the play Macbeth, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, want to become the King and Queen of Scotland. They want these titles so badly that they do a few demented things to reach their goal. After a while, their greed starts to control their actions. Lady Macbeth is the main instigator of Macbeth’s troubling actions throughout the play.

Lady Macbeth is constantly trying to get into Macbeth’s head to convince him to do as she says so that she can become Queen. For example, she says, “To beguile the time, Look like the time; bear welcome in Your eye, Your hand, your tongue: look like th’ innocent flower” (1.5.61-63). Lady

Macbeth is telling him that he is not manly enough to kill King Duncan, which is what must be done for them to take the throne. In addition to saying that he is not manly, she says, “And wakes it now, to look so green and pale At which it did so freely? From this time such I account thy love. Art thou afraid To be the same in thine own act and valor As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st in thine own esteem letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would’ (1.7.37-44). She is telling him he’s a coward because he is hesitating to kill King Duncan and from now on she is going to think of him as a coward. It is clear that Lady Macbeth is the one manipulating Macbeth to murder King Duncan.
From the very beginning, Lady Macbeth gives off the impression that she’s psychotic. The audience becomes aware of this when she says, “What not put upon His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our great quell?” (1.7.70-72). She is devising the plan for Macbeth to follow so that the servants look guilty instead of them. Similarly she says, “ These deeds must not be thought After these ways. So it will make us mad” (2.2.33-34). At this point, Macbeth has killed King Duncan and she tells him not to think about it anymore or they will go mad with guilt. Lady Macbeth had Macbeth do the killing and wants him to just forget it and be happy because now they can become King and Queen.
Furthermore, Lady Macbeth starts to show how guilty she feels and makes a dramatic decision. For instance, while she is sleep walking one night, a doctor and a gentlewoman overhear her say, “Out, damned spot! Out I say! -one, two. Why, then, ‘tis time to do’t” (5.1.31-32). Lady Macbeth expresses the guilt that she is feeling in her sleep. Earlier, she states, “Come on. Gentle my lord, sleek o’er your rugged looks; Be bright and jovial among your guests tonight” (3.2.27-29). Overall, she has been telling Macbeth not to be guilty when, in reality, she is the one drowning in guilt. With regards to how she is feeling, it becomes so overwhelming to her that she commits suicide.
From the start, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill the current King so that they can replace him. Alternatively, in the end, Lady Macbeth is the one feeling the most guilt. Additionally, Macbeth no longer has to feel guilty for his actions. On the other hand, due to Lady Macbeth's death, Scotland is given a new hope. Now that the people of Scotland have a more respectable King and Queen, everyone can move on with their lives. In conclusion, in order to be successful in life, each individual must work hard to get what they want.