He was unable to sort out in his mind what he was going to do. This was obvious to his wife, who was far more ruthless than him. As soon as Lady Macbeth knew of the prophecy, Duncan was doomed. Lady Macbeth knew Macbeth was ambitious, but feared he was too full of “th’ milk of human kindness” to take the steps necessary to make himself king (I.5.15). She resolved to convince her husband to do whatever was required to seize the crown. She even went as far as calling him a coward and questioning his manhood to get him to acquiesce to killing the king. “When you durst do it,” she said, “then you were a man” (I.7.49). To prove to himself, and his dear wife that he indeed was a man, Macbeth committed the
He was unable to sort out in his mind what he was going to do. This was obvious to his wife, who was far more ruthless than him. As soon as Lady Macbeth knew of the prophecy, Duncan was doomed. Lady Macbeth knew Macbeth was ambitious, but feared he was too full of “th’ milk of human kindness” to take the steps necessary to make himself king (I.5.15). She resolved to convince her husband to do whatever was required to seize the crown. She even went as far as calling him a coward and questioning his manhood to get him to acquiesce to killing the king. “When you durst do it,” she said, “then you were a man” (I.7.49). To prove to himself, and his dear wife that he indeed was a man, Macbeth committed the