Jonathan

Kenneth Ralston

2002

An essay test analysis of an excerpt from Shakespere's Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth LIES!

This excerpt, a dialogue between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, occurs in act I scene VII. Imediadetly prior to this passage Macbeth decides not to kill Duncan. In this scene Macbeth and Lady Macbeth argue over whether they should kill Duncan or not, Macbeth fears they will fail, but Lady Macbeth convinces him they will succeed and he agrees to kill Duncan. This passage is important because it helps establish their plot to kill Duncan. Furthermore it gives us insight into Lady Macbeth's character. It reveals that she believes that if someone makes a promise they must follow it. It also contributes to one of the central themes of the play, the idea that one must be manly to kill and be cruel. The motif of sex, occuring here four times, acquires in this context the connotation of being able to kill. The repitition serves to emphasize earlier references to men being able to kill.

We see that Lady macbeth beleives one should keep ones promises, although this is a somewhat hypocritical statement since she said earlier that she would kill Duncan, but she does not. We see that she views being a man as being able to kill: "When you durst do it, then you were a man." And she believes that one should keep a promise. What confuses me is why can't Lady Macbeth kill Duncan, who only resembles her father, if she can kill her own child? This leads me to the conclusion that this is said just to make Macbeth do as she wishes. This reveals that she is coniving and manipulative and makes it hard to get any clear insight into her psyche. It does appear, however, that she is using Macbeth to get power for herself.

After this Macbeth kills Duncan while Lady Macbeth stands by and does nothing while macbeth is traumatized. As the play goes on Lady Macbeth's plan to use Macbeth as a pupet falls apart due to his growing insanity and she starts to panic, becoming insane herself.