There is an argument that Macbeth's fate is not
predestined and that transgressive female characters such as Lady Macbeth push him
further into 'blood'. Declaring "we will proceed no further in this business", Macbeth
evidently undergoes a mental process by which he comes round to the idea of murdering
Duncan. He does this as a result of his wife's manipulation, her leverage being his
manliness. She mocks him, forcing him to act to prove her
wrong:
When
you durst do it, then you are a
man
She is unsympathetic
"you do unbend your noble strength to think so brainsickly of things" and even critical
of her husband, despite the fact she was unable to carry out the murder of Duncan
herself.
My
hands are of your colour;
but I shame to wear a heart so
white
Both Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth's hands are of the same colour, that is, red from the blood of Duncan. Yet Lady
Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into acting innocent, she accuses him of being weak and her
words suggest that they will be found out if he cannot pull himself together and collect
himself.
This is consolidated by her demand that he "look
like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". In such a manner, Lady Macbeth
manipulates Macbeth into keeping their heinous deed a secret. She wants to be queen,
even if she has to coerce her husband into murdering the king to become
this.
No comments:
Post a Comment