Lady Macbeth Killing Duncan
Within the drama Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, multiple characters meet their untimely demise for similar reasons, but both have vastly different repercussions- not only upon the other characters, but also upon the plot of the play. Lady Macbeth showcases these differences in her reactions to two of the deaths within Macbeth. After Macbeth has killed Duncan- the king of the realm, she almost seems to not be affected by it. While Macbeth is panicking, she retains a level head- as if she couldn’t care less about the fact that her husband has murdered someone in her own house. “These deeds must not be thought of after these ways; so, it will make us mad” (Shakespeare 34). However, when Banquo is killed, Lady Macbeth is haunted by it. “I tell
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you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave” (Shakespeare 76). Banquo was a friend of the Macbeth’s, and she mourns his death.
This vast difference in Lady Macbeth’s reactions are due to a variety of reasons.
when Duncan is killed, she actively takes part in his murder. “When in swinish sleep their drenched natures lie as in a death, what cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan?” (Shakespeare 28). Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to murder Duncan, because she knows the way that it will advance his political station, and, by default, her own station. While she eventually comes to regret, and, indeed, become horrified by her own actions, she is quite unaffected by Duncan’s death for most of the play. In contrast, very soon after Banquo’s death, Lady Macbeth begins sleepwalking and sleeptalking, and she cannot forget his death, and the stress of Banquo’s murder presumably causes her death. This is ironic, because Lady Macbeth had nothing to do with his death. Macbeth completely orchestrated the assassination of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth did not even know of it until the event had passed, but still feels ashamed by it. This difference is likely because Lady Macbeth was friends with Banquo, but was not particularly close to King Duncan at all. She most likely feels Banquo’s absence more acutely than she does Duncan’s, and as such, is affected more by the former’s
death.
The drama Macbeth shows us quite a bit about man’s ability to justify murder. The way Lady Macbeth encourages and lends a role in the King’s murder, because she wanted herself and Macbeth to advance politically. “Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter” (Shakespeare 24). Humans can justify murder if it betters our own position. It is quite a selfish practice, but assassinations do happen for a reason- if someone believes that they would be better off without the ruler, they might decide to eliminate that ruler. The play also displays the way we feel more strongly for our friends than we do for our enemies. When Banquo is killed, Lady Macbeth is shocked and disturbed- but the same action was committed on Duncan, and she assisted in it, but she was not as affected by it. It is strange that if someone we dislike is killed, we don’t care as much as we do when someone that we do like is killed. It’s the same act. There’
you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave” (Shakespeare 76). Banquo was a friend of the Macbeth’s, and she mourns his death.
This vast difference in Lady Macbeth’s reactions are due to a variety of reasons.
when Duncan is killed, she actively takes part in his murder. “When in swinish sleep their drenched natures lie as in a death, what cannot you and I perform upon the unguarded Duncan?” (Shakespeare 28). Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to murder Duncan, because she knows the way that it will advance his political station, and, by default, her own station. While she eventually comes to regret, and, indeed, become horrified by her own actions, she is quite unaffected by Duncan’s death for most of the play. In contrast, very soon after Banquo’s death, Lady Macbeth begins sleepwalking and sleeptalking, and she cannot forget his death, and the stress of Banquo’s murder presumably causes her death. This is ironic, because Lady Macbeth had nothing to do with his death. Macbeth completely orchestrated the assassination of Banquo, and Lady Macbeth did not even know of it until the event had passed, but still feels ashamed by it. This difference is likely because Lady Macbeth was friends with Banquo, but was not particularly close to King Duncan at all. She most likely feels Banquo’s absence more acutely than she does Duncan’s, and as such, is affected more by the former’s
death.
The drama Macbeth shows us quite a bit about man’s ability to justify murder. The way Lady Macbeth encourages and lends a role in the King’s murder, because she wanted herself and Macbeth to advance politically. “Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter” (Shakespeare 24). Humans can justify murder if it betters our own position. It is quite a selfish practice, but assassinations do happen for a reason- if someone believes that they would be better off without the ruler, they might decide to eliminate that ruler. The play also displays the way we feel more strongly for our friends than we do for our enemies. When Banquo is killed, Lady Macbeth is shocked and disturbed- but the same action was committed on Duncan, and she assisted in it, but she was not as affected by it. It is strange that if someone we dislike is killed, we don’t care as much as we do when someone that we do like is killed. It’s the same act. There’