Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a play centered around king, country, and best laid plans. In 1785, Robert Burns wrote the poem To a Mouse, a tale about how even the best (or worst) ideas can have terrible consequences. The most famous quote relates to Lady Macbeth and how her plans d0 not turn out the way she imagines they will: “The best-laid schemes o’ Mice an’ Men/ Gang aft a-gley,/ An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain,/ For promis’d joy! (Burns, 39-42). When she encouraged MacBeth to kill Duncan and become queen, she thought it would bring her joy and did it with no remorse; however, what she thought she could wipe away with water changes into harrowing guilt, and she understood that even the best laid plans don’t always turn
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Right away, she thinks about what horrible crimes she could commit to kill Duncan and make Macbeth king. She also speaks about Macbeth kind nature, and if she could simply get rid of all her womanly characteristics, she would do it herself. “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!” (Shakespeare 1. 5. 40-43). This explains that Lady Macbeth wants spirits to come and take away everything that makes her womanly and kind and make her wicked so she can become queen and be one of the most powerful women in the world. When Macbeth finally arrives home, he states that he no longer wants to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth is still bloodthirsty for power and begins to question his courage and bravery. “When you durst do it , then you were a man;/ And to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man” (Shakespeare 1. 7. 49-51). Again, Lady Macbeth does not believe that Macbeth is cruel enough to murder someone, and because she really is the heartless person with no remorse, she is able to convince him to do it by questioning his masculinity. This causes Macbeth kill Duncan; however, if it were not for Lady Macbeth orchestrating the entire thing, he would not have committed this heinous …show more content…
Macbeth also starts to become more independent from Lady Macbeth as the guilt he feels lessens with the rising death count: “What’s to be done?/ Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,/ Till thou applaud the deed” (Shakespeare 3. 2. 44-46). At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth planned and strategized the murders, but as the story unfolds, she becomes unaware of what Macbeth is doing. After Banquo is murdered, there is a banquet when Macbeth becomes unhinged. Lady Macbeth does not know why he acts like this, but is quick to cover it up. “My lord is often thus,/ And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat./ The fit is momentary; upon a thought/ He will be well again” (Shakespeare 3. 4. 54-57). While she may not know all of Macbeth’s plans, she is able to support him by excusing his behaviour, thus showing that she is aligned with his murderous spree. Lady Macbeth does not change drastically from the beginning of the play to the middle, but she is definitely left out of plans whereas at the beginning she is the one to make
Right away, she thinks about what horrible crimes she could commit to kill Duncan and make Macbeth king. She also speaks about Macbeth kind nature, and if she could simply get rid of all her womanly characteristics, she would do it herself. “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!” (Shakespeare 1. 5. 40-43). This explains that Lady Macbeth wants spirits to come and take away everything that makes her womanly and kind and make her wicked so she can become queen and be one of the most powerful women in the world. When Macbeth finally arrives home, he states that he no longer wants to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth is still bloodthirsty for power and begins to question his courage and bravery. “When you durst do it , then you were a man;/ And to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man” (Shakespeare 1. 7. 49-51). Again, Lady Macbeth does not believe that Macbeth is cruel enough to murder someone, and because she really is the heartless person with no remorse, she is able to convince him to do it by questioning his masculinity. This causes Macbeth kill Duncan; however, if it were not for Lady Macbeth orchestrating the entire thing, he would not have committed this heinous …show more content…
Macbeth also starts to become more independent from Lady Macbeth as the guilt he feels lessens with the rising death count: “What’s to be done?/ Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,/ Till thou applaud the deed” (Shakespeare 3. 2. 44-46). At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth planned and strategized the murders, but as the story unfolds, she becomes unaware of what Macbeth is doing. After Banquo is murdered, there is a banquet when Macbeth becomes unhinged. Lady Macbeth does not know why he acts like this, but is quick to cover it up. “My lord is often thus,/ And hath been from his youth. Pray you, keep seat./ The fit is momentary; upon a thought/ He will be well again” (Shakespeare 3. 4. 54-57). While she may not know all of Macbeth’s plans, she is able to support him by excusing his behaviour, thus showing that she is aligned with his murderous spree. Lady Macbeth does not change drastically from the beginning of the play to the middle, but she is definitely left out of plans whereas at the beginning she is the one to make