Discuss the statement "Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind the murder of Duncan".

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English coursework

Discuss the statement “Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind the murder of Duncan”

  In this essay I will be discussing the statement “Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind the murder of Duncan” and deciding from the evidence I’ve gathered whether I agree with the statement or not.

  The first time Macbeth appears in the play is in Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth seems to be a courageous and high ranked soldier because in the previous scene a captain describes Macbeth as “brave” and describes how Macbeth “unseamed” a slave.  Also Banquo, a general (who appears upon the barren heath alongside Macbeth) says to Macbeth “My noble partner” so we’ve got quite a good picture of what Macbeth is like.  Also upon the heath are 3 witches who say three prophecies for Macbeth:-

“All hail Macbeth!  Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!”

“All hail Macbeth!  Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!”

“All hail Macbeth!  That shalt be king hereafter!”

After hearing the prophecies that he will become the thane of Glamis and Cawdor and become the king, Macbeth seems startled, shocked and scared of the prophecies, he doesn’t say much and Banquo asks:-

“Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear

Things that do sound so fair?”

Banquo’s wondering why Macbeth fears these good predictions and describes Macbeth as “rapt withal” (intense).  But after Banquo has heard his predictions, Macbeth is curious and eager to hear more, on line 70 he says:-

“Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more”

  When Ross and Alex appear Macbeth does not say much at all because he is so deep in thought, he is probably thinking about whether or not to believe these outrageous prophecies.  I think that Macbeth had thought of killing Duncan before so he could become king. After hearing the prophecy that he would become king he suddenly remembered the thoughts he had of killing Duncan and that even though the thoughts may have seemed absurd before, after hearing these predictions, the thought of killing Duncan so he could be king sooner was not so stupid after all and that it might just work.  This is why Macbeth was so “rapt” in thought, because he was thinking

  Before Macbeth even talks to his wife, Lady Macbeth we find the first piece of evidence that Macbeth is seriously  thinking of murdering King Duncan - –he thought is strong in his mind.  While wrapped up in thought , Macbeth says:-

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“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”

Macbeth is feeling agitated because he says his hairs on the back of his hand are standing on end and that unnaturally his hearts beats furiously from thinking about the “horrid image” the witches have placed in his mind e.g. murdering Duncan. Also Macbeth says quite sarcastically:-

“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me.”  

The above statement means that if Macbeth is going ...

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