'Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan'. Discuss this statement and decide whether or not you agree.

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Millie Popovic

English Coursework-Macbeth

‘Lady Macbeth is the real driving force behind the murder of Duncan’. Discuss this statement and decide whether or not you agree.

Macbeth is a very exciting play containing all kinds of plots and murders. Many of the characters deceive one another in some form, and are generally very treacherous. Two of the most dangerous characters in the play are Lady Macbeth and her husband, Macbeth. Together they commit a most dreadful crime by killing the King; Duncan. It is for this reason that it is difficult to determine if Lady Macbeth is the real driving force as they each do their own part in committing the crime. Lady Macbeth prepares and directs the plan, encouraging Macbeth to go through with it. Macbeth does the actual murdering; he however was also the first person who thinks about killing Duncan. Furthermore he commits some murders on his own. Lady Macbeth does not have any involvement in these cases. And it is purely for him self that Macbeth kills Banquo and his son.  

        So does this mean that Macbeth is totally to blame for the killing of Duncan? Or is Lady Macbeth the one that pushes him into it, putting the dagger into his hand as it were?

Well in my opinion, Lady Macbeth is the driving force behind the murder of Duncan to some extent. I believe that after Macbeth’s letter home, she iss very sure of the course of action they should take. When the prophecies were foretold, by the witches, “hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” Macbeth was shown to be startled by these words as Banquo shows when he says, “why do you start and seam to fear things that do sound so fair?” This shows that Banquo is confused by Macbeth’s reaction, and that he also notices him, and does not just think of himself and what he can gain from the witches.

Unlike Lady Macbeth however, who had a very different reaction. She was delighted to hear what the witches foretold and started analysing the possibilities that lay before them. She immediately thinks of Macbeth’s capability towards committing a crime, and suggests that she has no intention of gaining the crown the fair and honest way. “yet I do fear thy nature, It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness” This shows that Lady Macbeth knows Macbeth very well and that she thinks he will need to be persuaded to kill Duncan, as he is too kind hearted to commit such a horrendous crime. Because of this statement, it is interesting to see what she says to him, as it is clear that she would have planned this too. This portrays Lady Macbeth as very cunning and devious, maybe more so than Macbeth.

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After Lady Macbeth hears news of Macbeth coming back she panics slightly and a sudden rush of planning comes over her. She realises that she must put into affect her plan and asks for the spirits to “unsex” her and give her the strength to be evil. There is no doubt in her mind that what she wishes to do is very evil as she then asks for the night to cover her tracks and for her not to be found out, “my knife see not the wound it makes”. Here Lady Macbeth refers to the murder as her knife. ...

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