Lady Macbeth later receives a letter from her husband, telling her of the prophecies and his new title. She is determined to help Macbeth become King, and when he returns with King Duncan, who is staying with them overnight, she persuades Macbeth to kill the King. Shakspeare potrays Macbeth’s castle as a place of safety to Duncan and Banquo, by telling the reader that it is a place where Martlets build their nests. This type of bird is normally associated with Churches and places of safety, but this is far from a safe place for Duncan and Banquo as what is being plotted for them inside is tragic.
I think that Lady Macbeth is mostly to blame for the murder of Duncan. If it wasn’t for her manipulative ways with Macbeth then he would never have carried out the murder. I think this because Macbeth has many doubts about carrying out the immoral acts but Lady Macbeth always persuades him that it’s the right thing to do. The way Lady Macbeth speaks is very important, as Shakespeare’s use of structured speak lets the reader know who the important characters in the play are. So even though Lady Macbeth doesn’t have a lot to say we know that what she does say is important due to this use of language.
I get the impression that Lady Macbeth is a very morbid and bitter person. I get this impression by the way Shakespeare uses language as a method of characterisation. Lady Macbeth in her speeches has constant references to death or creatures related to the dark side such as ravens, and by the way she speaks of herself being “unsexed” in order for her to be able to carry out the immoral acts. In an Elizabethan theatre the audience are persuaded by Shakespeare’s use of language, that Lady Macbeth is clearly to blame for the murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is also a very clever and in-sensitive woman as even when she knows of the terrible fate she has planned for Duncan she is still warm and welcoming towards him and doesn’t “flinch” at all, showing her in-sensitive side. She is clever as she devises all the plans for the murder herself. The only thing that she doesn’t do is actually carryout the murder as that is a mans job, I see the only factor holding Lady Macbeth back from committing the murder of Duncan is the fact that she is female, hence why she asks to be unsexed. So there would have been no reason for Macbeth to be involved in her plans.
Macbeth is easily influenced by Lady Macbeth, as in, Act three, Scene two, Macbeth begins to use evil imagery in his speeches, an example of this is when he says ‘good things of days begin to droop and drowse, whiles night’s black agents to their preys do rouse.’ This not only shows a connection between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth but also shows how easily Lady Macbeth can influence Macbeth into thinking as evilly as her, then she can persuade him into murdering Duncan.
Macbeth hesitates, as he is about to carryout the immoral murderous act of killing Duncan. Then he sees a vision of his dagger in the air before him, a vision which he describes as fatal, he clutches at the dagger but his hand goes straight through it, the vision of the dagger leads him towards Duncan’s room where Macbeth will kill Duncan. Macbeth is very agitated after committing the murder. To an Elizabethan audience, this part of the drama builds up suspense and tension. Shakespeare does this intentionally by the type of language that he gives Macbeth to say as he is approaching Duncan’s room. From this use of language the audience can infer what Macbeth is about to do. At this stage Lady Macbeth is anxious to find out what her husband has done, to know if her plans have worked. Macbeth is not able to smear the guards with blood as he is so “shaken up” by what he has just done. This leaves Lady Macbeth having to do it, now she has actually participated physically in the murder. During one of Lady Macbeth’s speeches she actually says that she was involved in the murder of Duncan, she says ‘A little water clears us of this deed,’ this tells the reader clearly that she was involved in the murder and that she holds herself partly responsible.
Macbeth is aware of what the witches’ said to Banquo, so hires two murderers and has him killed but Fleance, Banquo’s son escapes. As Macbeth returns to the banquet he is faced with the ghost of Banquo. Macbeth is distraught. Lady Macbeth is worried in case Macbeth in his state tells the Lords about their involvement in the murder of Duncan and so she excuses Macbeth and asks if the Lords can leave, this shows that.
