I think that Act one Scene three is a very important scene because Macbeth starts to think about killing Duncan and becoming king himself.
“ This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good; If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature.” Macbeth is thinking about killing Duncan, it is making him so paranoid that his heart is beating strongly, ”make my heart knock at my ribs.” It is making him very nervous and worried that he has thoughts about Duncan. He is very conscious about what he is thinking because he doesn't want anyone to know. I know that Macbeth doesn’t want to think about what he has to do to become king because he says that it is a horrid image doth unfix my hair. What he means is that the thoughts is evil that it is messing up his head. The quote continues,
“Present tears are less horrible imaginings: my thought, whose murder yet but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man that function is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is but what is not.” Macbeth is considering Duncan’s death more in this section before Lady Macbeth even knows anything. “ My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,” basically Macbeth is saying that if he killed Duncan then it would be amazing because he could take the power and become king and that would be fantastic ass he says.
So even if it was Lady Macbeth that was the driving force, Macbeth had this evil deed already in his head just from what some witches said, and because he has become Thane of Cawdor this makes him contemplate even more. So the witches have a great deal to do with the Death of Duncan because they gave Macbeth the opportunity to think about and act upon what they have said.
Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend also in a way persuades Macbeth to think about what the witches have predicted because when the witches first tell Macbeth about becoming King Banquo says
“Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear things that do sound so fair?” Banquo is saying that it is fair that Macbeth should become Thane of Cawdor and King, even though both of men are alive.
“I’the name of truth, are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly. Ye show? My noble partner you greet with present grace, and great prediction of noble having and not royal hope, that he seems rapt: withal: to me you speak not. If you can look into the seeds of time, and say which grain will grow?” Banquo is saying here that you have to choose your path, your destiny. Depending on what you do, depends on where you go and what you do. You never know which grain will grow given all the factors which it needs to grow, Banquo I think does believe that Macbeth should become Thane of Cawdor but he has to plan what he wants to do to become King, so in a way I think that Banquo is giving Macbeth ideas about killing Duncan. I don’t know if banquo is just saying this because Banquo’s sons are in line for the title of king, “Your children shall be kings,” Macbeth is arguing with Banquo saying that your sons will be king, I won’t but Banquo replies “You shall be king.”
“And which will not, speak then to me, who neither beg nor fear, your favours nor your hate.” (Act 1 scene 3 lines 51-61) Here Banquo is saying basically don’t talk to me about what you might do, ”and which will not speak then to me,” This quote shows and asks Macbeth, “Why do you not believe what is fair- right?” This also makes Macbeth think, if my best friend believes and agrees with these witches, why shouldn’t I? Also in line 86 “You will be king,” it’s as though Banquo is predicting and telling Macbeth, he will be king. I think it means a lot that Macbeth is very close to Banquo because this text wouldn’t have had such an impact if it wasn’t someone he trusted and respected. Banquo influences Macbeth by agreeing with the witches and making Macbeth think about being king even more. He has added to the building blocks; he idea about becoming king keeps on growing in his head. I know this because Macbeth keeps on talking about becoming King and also talking about the witches. Macbeth keeps wanting to know more about him becoming king because he says, “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.” (scene 3 line 70)This shows that he wants to know more. I can tell that he keeps thinking about becoming king because he thinks to himself, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me.” This shows that Macbeth is thinking about it.
In Act one scene five, Lady Macbeth gets a letter from her husband explaining that he has become Thane of Cawdor, “Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all hailed me, “Thane of Cawdor.” This when Lady Macbeth gets to hear that her Husband has been made Thane of Cawdor, as soon as she gets this letter thoughts of killing Duncan are automatically triggered. Lady Macbeth, I can tell straight away that she feels very proud because, referring to the text it says, “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promis’d.” You can tell from this section of the quote that Lady Macbeth already has pans for Macbeth, saying that he will be what he deserves and that is king.
But there is a problem, Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth is too kind, and loyal to be ble to do this, “Yet I do fear thy nature; it is too full o’the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldest be great, Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it; what thou wouldest highly.” This shows that Lady Macbeth had thought about murder, ”yet I do fear thy nature,” this is showing that she fears that he wouldn’t be able to do it. She also thinks about killing Duncan and how she thought that Macbeth wouldn’t be able to do it because he was too kind, “It is too full o’the milk of human kindness.” Milk of kindness I think that means that he is too kind, basically it could be saying that he wouldn’t hurt a fly because he is nice.
Lady Macbeth definitely thought about the murder even before her husband arrived home, “And yet wouldst wrongly win; thou’dst have, great Glamis, That which cries, “thus thou must do,” if thou have it.” This quote is important because she is saying that if he wants to become King then he is going to have to “wrongly win,” suggesting that he has to do it illegally, i.e. Murder.
I feel that if Lady Macbeth hadn’t convinced Macbeth then he wouldn’t have done it, because even he even felt dirty when he was thinking about it. “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs against the use of nature.” ( Scene 3 lines 134-137) Here it is showing that Macbeth is nervous and worried that he is thinking such bad things. He feels very conscious that anyone can hear him.
When arrives home, Lady Macbeth puts him through a series of tests to challenge him but she also prepares him for what he must do.
“Your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it. The that’s coming must be provided for; and you shall put this nights great business into my dispatch.” Lady Macbeth is saying that Duncan trusts you because you are his loyal friend, and knight, so act innocent but be like the serpent, I also have to remember is that the serpent is the symbol of deceit and temptation, but that is what Lady Macbeth wants him to be.
“I will look after all the details but you need to act normally around Duncan. Your trust will make the deed easy.” Lady Macbeth is saying that that you act all innocent so that Duncan doesn’t suspect anything, which would make the deed, easy, it would be easy if he was relaxed. “I will look after all the details,” Lady Macbeth really wants Macbeth o become king and she is basically willing to do everything as long as no one suspects anything.
I know that Lady Macbeth really wants to murder Duncan because before he comes home she is saying things like,
“Come thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes, nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, to cry, ‘Hold, Hold!” Lady Macbeth wants all the strength to go through with the deed but she says that if she is able to see Duncan’s face then she will not go through with the murder. Lady Macbeth in this quote creates a dark and sinister image because she is telling us that heaven (or good) will not be able to stop her, “nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, ”this is the quote, which explains it. She also explains about the knife, she doesn’t want to see the wound, “That my keen knife see not the wound it makes.” The fact that she uses the word “keen” shows that she is determined to go through with the murder.
Macbeth says that, “If were done, when’ ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly; if th’ assassin action.” (Act one, scene seven, lines 1-2) Basically this tells us that if I had to do it, I would do it quickly. Macbeth also goes on to say,
“That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’er leaps itself and falls on the other.” Here he is admitting that his ambition has over powered his conscience and he is agreeing to the atrocity.
Then Macbeth starts again to debate with what is right and wrong,
“We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honour’d me of late; and I have brought Golden opinions form all sorts of people, which would be worn now in their newest glass, not cast aside so soon.” Macbeth admits that he doesn’t want to exceed in murdering Duncan, he also is saying that he doesn’t want to talk about it anymore, ”We will proceed no further in this business,” (Act one, scene seven, line 3) He is showing that his conscious is over powering his ambition. I have gained the respect off people I am not going to ruin it, “Golden opinions from all sorts of people.” I don’t want to waste what I have if it doesn’t work is basically what he is saying. Macbeth goes on to say that Duncan has made him Thane of Cawdor, and I am going to betray him by committing treason?
After, Lady Macbeth starts to challenge him, “Art thou afread to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thee own esteem, ‘Letting dare not,’ wait upon, ’I would like the poor cat, the adage?” (Act one, scene seven, lines 39-45)
Lady Macbeth also challenges his Manhood,” Letting ‘I dare not’ wait upon ‘I would,’ Like a poor cat I’ the adage?” and “When durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man.” Lady, Macbeth is saying that you would be a proper man if you went through with it because you are brave, courageous but if you don’t you a poor cat with nothing. (Act one, scene seven, lines 44-45 and 49-51)
Lady Macbeth is saying, ‘Do you want to live like a coward? Do you have desire? Do you want to become king, then you know what you have to do! Lady Macbeth is very powerful in what she says because she knows that calling him a coward is going to hurt him, “, and live like a coward in thee own esteem.” She is very cunning but at the same time forceful with saying this because she is basically calling him a coward and he will react to it, agreeing to murder Duncan.
“How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash’d the brains’ out, had I so sworn as you have done.” (Act one, scene seven, lines 55-59) She is saying, I would if I had a baby, kill it for you to be king so what you going to do? I would make the ultimate sacrifice for Macbeth to become king and all he has to do is kill Duncan.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk about it after, “If we should fail-“
“We fail?” (Act one, scene seven, lines 59-60)
Lady Macbeth has full confident in herself. “We fail?” she is saying that, we fail? How could you think about that? With my guidance we will not fail.
But screw your courage to the sticking –place, and we’ll not fail. When Duncan is asleep, whereto the rather shall his day’s hard journey soundly invite him.” “Screw your courage” she is saying if you keep your courage, if you remain courageous and brave we will not fail, you will be able to go through with it.
Lady Macbeth also says that she would be able to go through with it, why can’t you? “ I laid their daggers ready; he could not miss’em. Had he not resembled my father as he slept. I had done it.” (Act two, scene 2, lines 13-15)Lady Macbeth is explaining to Macbeth that she has laid the daggers out, and she would have done the deed instead of Macbeth, but Duncan resembles her father while he is asleep.
Macbeth debates a lot between his ambition and conscious, “I go, and it is done; the bell invites me. Hear not, Duncan; for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven, or to hell.” In this quote and this is the final debate, which he has, his ambition wins and he decides to go through with it. I think that Macbeth wouldn’t have gone through with it if it weren’t for Lady Macbeth because she challenges him, I would kill my baby for, what are you willing to do for me? And calls him a coward so Macbeth I feel doesn’t really want to do it but his wife is forcing him. Macbeth does have a conscience about killing Duncan and before whilst and after he murders Duncan he feels guilty. “ This is a sorry sight.” He is saying that I can’t believe that I have done this. Lady Macbeth is feeling very happy with her self at this point because she says, “A foolish thought to say a sorry sight.” Lady Macbeth is calling him a fool because he is regretting it.
Macbeth, I know for a fact has a conscience about killing Duncan because before he did the evil deed, when he was talking to Lady Macbeth, he says, “ I don’t want to talk about it.” And he also says, “It’s a sorry sight,” and, “I am afraid to think what I have done.” All these quotes show that Macbeth is regretting what he has done.
Even though straight after Macbeth has killed Duncan she is impressed and overjoyed, later on in the story she shows that she regrets what has happened and what has been done. I can tell this because before she commits suicide, she keeps on seeing blood spots on her hand which shows she is feeling guilt and that she had a lot to do with the death. Why would she feel guilty when she had nothing to do with the death of Duncan? This proves that she knows she had something to do and she forced Macbeth into doing the deed and she is regretting this.
Even though it was Macbeth that actually did murder Duncan I feel that Lady Macbeth was the force behind him. She was his source of confidence, which influenced him into it. I have discussed all the factors, which I explained in the introduction. I have discussed the witches firstly putting the idea into Macbeth’s head, Banquo making Macbeth think about it. Banquo also made Macbeth more curious about because he agreed with the witches that Macbeth deserved to become King. Even though most of the characters had an influence over Macbeth, it was still him that murdered Duncan.
I do agree with the statement, “ Lady Macbeth id the driving force behind Duncan,” I have tried to keep in mind that if it wasn’t for Macbeth, Duncan would still be alive. I think that she was the driving force behind Macbeth because Macbeth didn’t even like thinking about killing Duncan and all the challenges and insults, which Macbeth receives, form Lady Macbeth, it made him feel that he must do it for my wife.
She insulted him by saying that, “Live like a coward,” So I definitely think she was the driving force behind the death of Duncan.
