when Duncan is killed, she actively takes part in his murder. “When in swinish sleep their drenched natures lie as in a death, what cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan?” (Shakespeare 28). Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to murder Duncan, because she knows the way that it will advance his political station, and, by default, her own station. While she eventually comes to regret, and, indeed, become horrified by her own actions, she is quite unaffected by Duncan’s death for most of the play. In contrast, very soon after Banquo’s death, Lady Macbeth begins sleepwalking and sleeptalking, and she cannot forget his death, and the stress of Banquo’s murder presumably causes her death. This is ironic, because Lady Macbeth had nothing to do with his death. Macbeth completely orchestrated the assassination of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth did not even know of it until the event had passed, but still feels ashamed by it. This difference is likely because Lady Macbeth was friends with Banquo, but was not particularly close to King Duncan at all. She most likely feels Banquo’s absence more acutely than she does Duncan’s, and as such, is affected more by the former’s
when Duncan is killed, she actively takes part in his murder. “When in swinish sleep their drenched natures lie as in a death, what cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan?” (Shakespeare 28). Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to murder Duncan, because she knows the way that it will advance his political station, and, by default, her own station. While she eventually comes to regret, and, indeed, become horrified by her own actions, she is quite unaffected by Duncan’s death for most of the play. In contrast, very soon after Banquo’s death, Lady Macbeth begins sleepwalking and sleeptalking, and she cannot forget his death, and the stress of Banquo’s murder presumably causes her death. This is ironic, because Lady Macbeth had nothing to do with his death. Macbeth completely orchestrated the assassination of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth did not even know of it until the event had passed, but still feels ashamed by it. This difference is likely because Lady Macbeth was friends with Banquo, but was not particularly close to King Duncan at all. She most likely feels Banquo’s absence more acutely than she does Duncan’s, and as such, is affected more by the former’s