Macbeths Downfall
Callie Peera
British Literature
Mr. Craig
22 December 2011
Macbeth’s downfall Lady Macbeth is a manipulative woman. She is a dark character and is ruthless and cunning. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is to blame for Macbeth’s downfall and insanity. When Macbeth tells his wife of the witches’ prophecies, one which had already came true, she is determined that he will become king. However she believes that he “Is too full o’ milk and human kindness to catch the nearest way” (1.5.17-18). She fears Macbeth is too good and loyal to seize the throne by murder. To encourage Macbeth to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells him; “I have given suck and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out…” ( 2.7.54-58). Lady Macbeth tells us that she would take an innocent harmless baby who has committed no wrong to her and dash it’s brains out. She is calling Macbeth a coward and saying look what I could do, but you cannot do that because you are not a man, I’m more of a man than you are. She says this knowing that he would take the bait to prove him a man and kill King Duncan. To contribute to his downfall, while Macbeth kills King Duncan, she chides him again when he brings the daggers back to her instead of spreading the blood on the grooms; “Why did you bring the daggers from the place? They must lie there, go carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood” (2.2.48-50). Lady Macbeth does not understand why Macbeth has brought the evidence of the murder back with him. The blood needs to be spread on guards so the guards with be framed and accused and not Macbeth. Macbeth however is too guilt ridden and shocked at what he has done to return to the scene, so Lady Macbeth takes it upon herself to do what must be done. “Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil.
British Literature
Mr. Craig
22 December 2011
Macbeth’s downfall Lady Macbeth is a manipulative woman. She is a dark character and is ruthless and cunning. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is to blame for Macbeth’s downfall and insanity. When Macbeth tells his wife of the witches’ prophecies, one which had already came true, she is determined that he will become king. However she believes that he “Is too full o’ milk and human kindness to catch the nearest way” (1.5.17-18). She fears Macbeth is too good and loyal to seize the throne by murder. To encourage Macbeth to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells him; “I have given suck and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out…” ( 2.7.54-58). Lady Macbeth tells us that she would take an innocent harmless baby who has committed no wrong to her and dash it’s brains out. She is calling Macbeth a coward and saying look what I could do, but you cannot do that because you are not a man, I’m more of a man than you are. She says this knowing that he would take the bait to prove him a man and kill King Duncan. To contribute to his downfall, while Macbeth kills King Duncan, she chides him again when he brings the daggers back to her instead of spreading the blood on the grooms; “Why did you bring the daggers from the place? They must lie there, go carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood” (2.2.48-50). Lady Macbeth does not understand why Macbeth has brought the evidence of the murder back with him. The blood needs to be spread on guards so the guards with be framed and accused and not Macbeth. Macbeth however is too guilt ridden and shocked at what he has done to return to the scene, so Lady Macbeth takes it upon herself to do what must be done. “Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead are but as pictures. ‘Tis the eye of childhood that fears a painted devil.