Responsibility in the Killing of King Duncan Shakespeare, one of the greatest English poets of all time, wrote many plays. Macbeth is a tragedy that mostly takes place in Scotland, dealing with the physical and psychological effects of ambition. A pivotal point in this play is the murder of King Duncan. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth team up and kill him because they have a desire for power. While both of them are involved in the killing, Lady Macbeth is strictly responsible for the attack. This essay will demonstrate how both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are equally evil characters, and it will examine why Lady Macbeth is the one responsible for the murder because she convinces Macbeth to commit the crime and makes the arrangements for the killing. Lady Macbeth uses different tactics and words to persuade Macbeth to continue the plan in killing King Duncan. When reading the letter from Macbeth concerning the witches’ prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s initial thought is to arrange a murder of Duncan. She says, “Hie thee hither,
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She is not more evil than her husband, but she is equally as evil. One reason why Lady Macbeth is evil is because she has unpleasant thoughts. The immediate thought after reading the note was to kill Duncan. This demonstrates that she is also evil as she struggles with her desire for power and chooses to use murder as a way to satisfy her yearning. She says, “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty” (I.v.). Lady Macbeth is explaining how she wants to become more like a man and for the spirits of murderous thoughts to assist her. She wants the murders to happen immediately. Her actions eventually lead her to feelings of extreme guilt which lead her to commit suicide. As a result of her thoughts, words, and actions Lady Macbeth can be considered just as evil as
She is not more evil than her husband, but she is equally as evil. One reason why Lady Macbeth is evil is because she has unpleasant thoughts. The immediate thought after reading the note was to kill Duncan. This demonstrates that she is also evil as she struggles with her desire for power and chooses to use murder as a way to satisfy her yearning. She says, “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty” (I.v.). Lady Macbeth is explaining how she wants to become more like a man and for the spirits of murderous thoughts to assist her. She wants the murders to happen immediately. Her actions eventually lead her to feelings of extreme guilt which lead her to commit suicide. As a result of her thoughts, words, and actions Lady Macbeth can be considered just as evil as