Herain I teach you
How you shall bid God ' eyld us for your pains,
And thank us for your trouble...
Duncan believes that Lady Macbeth is to become a better person for the trouble she has taken. Duncan is the reason for this trouble and therefore believes he should be thanked. I believe Shakespeare wanted to convey the close relationship of Lady Macbeth and Duncan. This then emphasises that Lady Macbeth is again a talented deceiver and is prepared to do whatever it takes to fulfil her aspirations.
Later on in the play; act 1 scene 7, Macbeth prepares for the murder of Duncan. Macbeth can see this is a sinful deed but by this time he has no mind of his own. He has been influenced by Lady Macbeth to do the sinful deed:
He's here in double trust
First, as I am the Kingman and his subject,
Strong both against deed; then, as his host,
Who should against his murder shut the door...
Macbeth feels strongly about "Shutting the door on" the murder as he is Duncan’s kinsman and subject, but Lady Macbeths influence becomes more overpowering than Macbeths feelings. Although Macbeth can see the consequences of the death of Duncan Lady Macbeth sees him merely as an obstacle to overcome. This suggests that Lady Macbeth lacks imagination. Yet another example of Lady Macbeth being a woman and testing Macbeth’s manhood:
Art thou agreed
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire...
Lady Macbeth is challenging Macbeth’s manhood. She refers to him as being a "Coward in thine own esteem"; afraid of what he desired to be. I believe this again suggests that Lady Macbeth is looking down at Macbeth. Due to Lady Macbeth’s lack of imagination, she can't empathise with Macbeths feeling and therefore challenges him. Following Macbeth’s test of manhood Lady Macbeth reveals a new side of her character that has not yet been exposed in the play with such intensity:
I have given suck and know
How tender 'tis to have the babe that makes me;
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from its boneless gums,
And dashed its brains out, had I so sworn you
Have done to this.
This terrifying and unnatural speech suggests that Lady Macbeth would rather brutally murder her child than go against her word. Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth when saying that she would rather brutally murder her own child than go against a promised word. She tries to make Macbeth feel guilty for even thinking about backing out of the murder. This speech made by Lady Macbeth shows that she has no moral standard by which to live by, making her amoral.
Whilst in the courtyard Lady Macbeths character progresses even further. Lady Macbeth shows the first signs of a conscience. She becomes anxious about the murder of Duncan. She covers this up by having a drink, to calm her nerves. Lady Macbeth encountered a human element, unlike in inhuman spirits she was filled with. She encountered this when preparing for the murder of Duncan. "Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done't" The evidence suggests that Lady Macbeth becomes tense when she hears "the crickets cry" The chirping of insects was thought to herold death, therefore making Lady Macbeth nervous and her speech disjointed.
Macbeth shows signs of terrible guilt when he realises his hands are blood coated. This pitiful line from Macbeth "this is a sorry sight" results in commands from Lady Macbeth. "A foolish thought to say a sorry sight" Meaning the deed is done so it is to take now reflect on it. The evidence suggests that Lady Macbeth has no imagination; she believes that the deed is done and therefore should be forgotten. Lady Macbeth then commands her husband to "consider it not so deeply".
A speech foreshadowing Lady Macbeths future, results in reality later on in the play:
These deeds must not be thought
After these ways; so, it will make us mad.
The evidence suggests that Lady Macbeth has no imagination to see what will actually happen to her in the future. "A little water washes us of this deed". Lady Macbeth believes that water washes away the blood and so the deed can be forgotten. The death of Duncan is the pivotal point in the play, from this new events evolve and situations revolve. Therefore Duncan’s Death shapes the remainder of the play.
When Duncan’s body is discovers Lady Macbeth pretends to faint as a distraction, to take away any suspicion, a deliberate reaction to conceal the act of murder. The faint could have been the first sign of not coping with the act of murder. I believe that another reason for Lady Macbeths fainting could have been the spirits leaving her body causing her to see the reality of the terrible scene therefore being a genuine faint.
Lady Macbeth shows signs of strain in act 3 scene 2:
Nought's had all' spent,
Where our desire is got without content:
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy
Than by destruction dwell in doughtful joy.
Meaning we have gained nothing and lost everything from this deed. It is better to be the person who was killed rather that what she feels now. A doubtful and insecure person. From this she shows understanding but only momentary when Macbeth begins to hide facts from Lady Macbeth "Be innocent of the knowledge" their strong relationship begins to break down. This is a mistake as Macbeth feels he needs to cover for Lady Macbeth to protect her.
At the banquet hall Lady Macbeth conceals Macbeth’s illusions by keeping composure. "Sit, worthy friends: my lord is often thus", Again Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth’s manhood in calling him a coward. When Macbeth tries to make Lady Macbeth understand and see, she dismisses the guests to cover for Macbeth, this shows that she is quick witted:
Ross What sights my lord
Lady Macbeth I pray for you to speak out; he grows worse and worse;
Questions enrage him. At once, good night:
Stand not upon the order of your going,
But go at once.
In act 5 scene 1 Lady Macbeth, as a result of denying her human emotions, due to the evil doings she becomes tormented. She suffers mentally by not getting sleep - Sleep walking. Lady Macbeth literally tries washing the blood from her hands "out, damned spot out, I say! One; two; why, then 'tis time to do't." Lady Macbeth when sleep walking says "Hell is murky" this is because she feels she is living in hell through her sinful deed. She also says "all the perfume in Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." This "little" symbolises a child as if she needs protecting and looking after, which is because she is weak. The doctor is troubled and sympathetic "The heart is sorely changed" grievously burned. The doctor believes there is nothing for him to do.
Lady Macbeth's cure becomes death, her mental illness can’t be fixed, just looked after but the doctors warning could not prevent Lady Macbeths suicide.
Throughout the play Lady Macbeth holds and imported role. If it wasn’t for Lady Macbeth I think the death of Duncan and finally Macbeth wouldn't have taken place because if Lady Macbeth hadn't been so determined and strong at the beginning of the play, the death of King Duncan might not have happened.
Lady Macbeths character is strong and determined it shows this when she hives Macbeth commands and is quick witted but as the play went on the sinful deed eventually ended in the death of Lady Macbeth, this shows the weakness and it got so bad that Lady Macbeth died.
