Power is a subject used by Shakespeare throughout the drama Macbeth. The secret plan involves Macbeth seeking to derive more power. Lady Macbeth attempts to convert Macbeth to kill Duncan so that he will go male monarch in his topographic point. Macbeth besides is persuaded to kill anyone who threatens his opportunities of being male monarch, including Banquo. Power is used by certain characters in the drama to influence others. One such character is Lady Macbeth. In the beginning of the drama, she is a strong-minded character. She takes on the function of a dominant male. She has great influence over her hubby, who appears to be weaker than she is. It is her influence that convinces Macbeth to slay Duncan. Lady Macbeth is the dominant spouse at the beginning of the drama, she persuades Macbeth to accomplish his end, and she plans the slaying of Duncan.
Lady Macbeth takes the function of the dominant spouse in the beginning of the drama, by moving as the existent power behind the throne. For illustration, it is easy recognized that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are opposite in many ways ( Scott 236 ). He is weak, indecisive, and takes on the traditional female function of the matrimony; she is strong, decisive, and takes on the traditional male function. One topographic point in the drama where Macbeth’s character is shown is Act I, Scene 5, Lines 15-17. She says, “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be. What thou art promis’vitamin D: yet do I fear thy nature. Is excessively full O’the milk of human kindness.” This is merely after Lady Macbeth receives the missive from Macbeth. It is besides of import to detect that when Macbeth’s first ideas of killing Duncan appear, he is scared. After he commits the slaying, Macbeth says, “To cognize my title, ‘ there best non cognize myself”. Knowing that he has committed such a despicable act makes him uncomfortable. It will be hard to move guiltless and trade with his guilt.
Lady Macbeth thinks that being soft is a failing. When she says Macbeth is “excessively full O’the milk of human kindness,” she means that he is excessively soft and weak to slay Duncan ( Scott 37 ). For illustration, in Act II, Scene 2, Lines 57-74, Macbeth has problem covering with the guilt of perpetrating such an offense. He instantly wishes Duncan were alive once more. He is besides paranoid that person will detect he has committed the slaying. He is afraid that his guilt will be a discoloration on him, like the blood. Although the blood may be washed off, his wickedness will non. Macbeth becomes irrational in this scene. He is busy worrying about his guilty scruples when there are things to be done. Lady Macbeth on the other manus, is unagitated and rational. She tells Macbeth to rinse his custodies and alter his apparels so people will non detect his offense. Her character is shown in Act I, Scene 5, Lines 38-54. This is merely after Lady Macbeth gets the missive, and merely before Duncan arrives to the palace. When she says, “unsex me here,” Lady Macbeth is inquiring to be more masculine ( Scott 237 ). She wants to be stronger and more cruel so that she can slay Duncan herself. She is strong-minded because it
takes bravery to believe of killing person. In Act I, Scene 5, Lines 60-73, Lady Macbeth’s features are revealed once more. This is when Macbeth arrives place from conflict. Lady Macbeth is teaching Macbeth on how to move. She knows he is non a good histrion, and she wants no 1 to acquire leery of their programs. She says, “put this night’s great concern into my despatch and go forth all the remainder to me”. She is bespeaking that she is taking control.
In add-on to being in control, Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to accomplish his end of being male monarch. He want more than anything to be king, but is diffident whether he can travel through with the slaying. Macbeth changes his head several times, until Lady Macbeth eventually convinces him to make it. First, Macbeth decides against the slaying. He says, “First, I am his kinsman, and his capabl. Strong both against the title; so, as his host, Who should against his liquidator shut the door”. Macbeth does non believe he should kill Duncan because he is his cousin, capable, and host. He is besides a good male monarch who does non merit to be murdered. Merely when Macbeth decides to non travel through with the slaying, Lady Macbeth enters the room. She uses twits to convert Macbeth to slay Duncan: “Wouldst 1000s have that / Which thou esteem’st the decoration of life / And live a coward in the ain regard? When you durst make it, so you were a adult male; / And to be more that what you were, you would / Be so much more the adult male”. She is naming her hubby a coward and says he is non a adult male. She is trusting that by dissing Macbeth she can do him kill Duncan.
Lady Macbeth’s last effort to derive power is by forming the slaying of Duncan. All that Macbeth knows is that he is traveling to kill Duncan. He does non cognize precisely how to travel about it. Lady Macbeth takes it upon herself to form everything. In Act II, Scene 2, Lines 1-13. Lady Macbeth has prepared for the slaying: “That which hath made the rummy hath made me bold. The doors are unfastened: and the surfeited grooms do mock their charge with snores. I have drugge’d their possets and laid their stickers ready.” Lady Macbeth gets the guards rummy and sets their stickers out where Macbeth can happen them. All Macbeth has to make is take the sticker and stab Duncan. Lady Macbeth orders Macbeth, “Go acquire some H2O, And was this foul informant from your manus. Why did you convey these stickers from the topographic point? They must lie there: travel transport them. And smear. The sleepy grooms with blood ). Lady Macbeth is telling Macbeth like a kid. He does non believe to rinse his custodies or leave the stickers in the room. Lady Macbeth, who is clam and practical, must remind him to make these things.
Throughout Shakespeare’s drama, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth proves herself to be the existent power behind the throne. She is the dominant spouse at the beginning of the drama, she persuades Macbeth to accomplish his end, and she plans the slaying of Duncan. Lady Macbeth defines her character to be strong-minded and decisive. She besides seems to play the traditional male function in the matrimony. For these grounds, Lady Macbeth is the existent power behind the throne.
