Macbeth Pt. I

Macbeth Act 1

Lady Macbeth's power over Macbeth makes for a very scary duo. Macbeth knows that what he is doing is wrong, yet he gets so easily persuaded by Lady Macbeth's taunting, that he agrees to proceed with the murder. Lady Macbeth challenges the traditional view of the ideal wife. Traditionally, a wife was supposed to encourage her husband to honorably progress in life, and to respectably provide for their family. Lady Macbeth, while encouraging her husband to progress and to provide for their family, does not encourage honor or dignity. She wants immediate prosperity and does not see how this can be their downfall. Her tragic character flaws make me wonder how she was like before the three witches told Macbeth their prophecy. Was she always this evil? Or did she cling onto this idea because the prophecy of Macbeth becoming the thane of Cawdor proved true? Macbeth seems either blinded by his love for her, or purely easily persuaded by any glimpse of possibility for higher status. Neither seem moral at this point, but at least Lady Macbeth seems to be more in control of her emotions and thoughts.