How Does Lady Macbeth Influence Her Husband

The play Macbeth written by Shakespeare focuses on the rise and fall of the main character, Macbeth. Macbeth’s one critical decision was largely influenced by his wife, Lady Macbeth, and this influence is exemplified early on in the play. In Act I Scene vii, Macbeth seemingly decides against killing King Duncan; however, Lady Macbeth persuades him to go ahead with the deed through her compelling argument. Moreover, Lady Macbeth’s ability to influence her husband so greatly demonstrates the strength of their marriage. By appealing both emotionally and logically to her husband, Lady Macbeth very easily convinces him against his own conscience. Many rhetorical devices are used in this scene by both Macbeth and his wife, which are very effective in driving the argument. Macbeth is persuaded by his wife to murder King Duncan due to the couple’s strong marriage as well as Lady

“Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? hath it slept since?” was the first reaction that Lady Macbeth offered after hearing of Macbeth’s decision (I.vii.l.36). This shows how quick she was to begin her argument to change her husband’s mind. Moreover, Lady Macbeth alludes to an adage of a cat that was too afraid to drink from a milk bowl to describe the way her husband was acting. Lady Macbeth goes on to say that she would rather “[h]ave pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, [a]nd dash’d the brains out” than betray a promise (I.vii.l.57). This statement is full of emotional appeal; the detail that Lady Macbeth goes into definitely plays a role in Macbeth changing his mind. The emotional appeal that Lady Macbeth brings into her argument makes it more effective, but her plan is the final component that ultimately convinces Macbeth to kill King