How Lady Macbeth is More Evil than Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the relationship between Macbeth and his wife is important to the theme of the play. At first it would appear to be an equal partnership. However, Lady Macbeth is the dominant of the two characters. She could have persuaded Macbeth to do anything if she wished. And though she does not openly show her power over Macbeth in public or in private. She often uses dishonour and emotional corruption to manipulate Macbeth to execute her will. Because of this, Lady Macbeth is a more evil character than Macbeth in the play.

When Lady Macbeth tends about the witches prediction that Macbeth will be king, she worries he will be too kind-hearted to achieve this status so she begins to matters into her own hands. In Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy she says, “ Come, you spirits that / serve the thougths of mortals: rid me of the natural / tenderness of my sex and fill me from head to toe with direst / cruelty”. Lady Macbeth is far more ambitious than Macbeth is. She appears to be mentally strong and she did not seem troubled by the murders that she was a part of. Her ambition is what keeps Macbeth focused on committing the murders. It is not until later in the play when Macbeth is able to adopt ambition of his own as he plans to murder Macduff’s family.

Lady Macbeth hardly shows sympathy toward any characters throughout the time of the play. When Lady Macbeth finds out the prophecies given to Macbeth by the witches, she immediately takes action and creates a plan. She works out the details of the plan to kill the king, and when Macbeth cannot return the daggers to Duncan’s room, she takes command of the situation and returns the daggers herself: “Coward! Give me the daggers”. Lady Macbeth also plays a key role in the murder of Banquo. During the feast while there are guests over, Macbeth is so unsettled by seeing the ghost of Banquo. Lady Macbeth just says, “Sit, good friends. My lord is often like this and / has been since his youth” . Lady Macbeth shows no regard for this as she immediately ridicules him. The things she made Macbeth do were so brutal that it would be difficult for anyone to forgive her.

Her true nature can be reflected through imagery of blood, violence, death. Macbeth is first introduced as an admirable character and a hero of Scotland. His true personality can be revealed as he admits, “path has been so bloody, stopping now and / going back would be no easier than going back”. Lady Macbeth started the actions which led to Macbeth committing the murders he did. The reader is constantly reminded of Macbeth’s insecurity as he questions all of his actions. Lady Macbeth’s role in the play is to give Macbeth the confidence to do things on his own. Lady uses certain techniques to make Macbeth do things. Lady Macbeth herself possesses characteristics of a man specifically her cruelty. Lady Macbeth makes fun of Macbeth for not being able to kill Duacan by saying, “I’ve suckled babies. I know how tender it is to love the / child at my breasts. While it was smiling up at me, I’d have / pulled my nipple from its mouth and dashed its brains out, if / I’d sworn – as you have sworn – to do it”.

Throughout the play Lady Macbeth’s character is played out as the most evil character in Macbeth. Macbeth is less evil than his wife. Lady Macbeth operates her husband with significant effectiveness, overriding all of his complaints. By the close of the play she is, reduced to sleepwalking through the castle. Once the sense of guilt comes home, Lady Macbeth’s sensitivity becomes a fault, and she is unable to live with herself, signalling her total lack of ability to deal with the legacy of her crimes.    

Works Cited

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