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How Did Lady Macbeth Kill Duncan

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Lady Macbeth

In the play Macbeth written by Shakespeare tells a story about a prophecy granting Macbeth to be crowned king if he kills the cherished and beloved king Duncan. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife played a huge part in the killing of Duncan. Although Lady Macbeth did not kill duncan and it was macbeth who had done it, Lady Macbeth still had a major influence on Macbeth which had caused him to murder the king without her influence the crime would have not been committed. Macbeth needed someone to believe in him doing the act and be there for him, Lady Macbeth had played that part. Lady macbeth had also stated that had done it herself by stating this insulted Macbeth, also even though the prophecy stated he would be king he couldn't …show more content…

The witch had said “[a]ll hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter”(I.3.50). This line meaning if Macbeth kills Duncan he will be crowned king after. Even though this was the prophecy Macbeth was still not convinced to play a part in doing this tetroius act. Although when Lady Macbeth found out about this prophecy causing her husband to be king meaning she will also be queen, she unhesitantly was positive they would go through with it. Later on in the play Lady Macbeth finds out Duncan will be staying the night with her and her husband. As soon as she gets this news she starts planning out how they're going to kill Duncan. Meanwhile Macbeth feels guilt and states “[h]e’s here in double trust: first, as I am kinsman and his subject strong both against the deed; then as his host”(I.7.12-14). During this time period when people were guests at a house the host was supposed to feed and protect their guests. Also meaning Duncan was the king also made it even more wrong to kill him. Macbeth started to feel as if he shouldn't do this because it was wrong and the king was a guest. Lady Macbeth had no time for hearing why they shouldn't do it. She never once questioned the terrible act before they had committed killing

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406 Words | 2 Pages

but she planned to murder him, she says “When in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lies as in a death” (1.7.77-78). Her plan was to drug the guard’s with wine so they will pass out and then Macbeth could walk right passed them to king Duncan’s room to kill him. She also admits to the crime when she says “That which hath made them drunk hath made me bold” (2.2.1-2).

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831 Words | 4 Pages

When Lady Macbeth found out about the predictions the witches had for Macbeth, she started to pressure him, even guilt tripped him about their deceased son, and made him doubt the morals he valued. As act I of Macbeth, carried on, the image and principles Macbeth had for himself began to rot away. While Macbeth desired take King Duncan’s throne, he wanted to do it the in righteous matter. Whenever Macbeth had doubts about killing King Duncan, Lady Macbeth was always there to urge him otherwise, because she cared more about power than him "Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor." (1.5 52).

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196 Words | 1 Pages

Macbeth gives many reasons as to why he does not want to kill Duncan. One reason he does not want to kill Duncan is because he is afraid of getting caught. He says that if he does kill Duncan, he needs to do it quickly because killing the king would be dangerous. Another reason he is hesitant to kill Duncan is because he is his kinsman. He feels like he will be going against a lot of rules by harming his guest.

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1563 Words | 7 Pages

Lady Macbeth regrets the killing and struggles with the horror. Macbeth begins the play as a loyal soldier and reacts strongly to the predictions from the witches, he is in two minds what to do ‘if chance will have my king why chance may crown me’ this shows that he does not know whether to act on the prophesy or not. The people of the era believed in witchcraft in Shakespearian times. Macbeth decides he does not want to murder king Duncan but gets drawn into doing it by lady Macbeth this is shocking to a Shakespearian audience women were not powerful at this time in

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2188 Words | 9 Pages

He now perceives that in order to become king he has to step over some people, kill them. For all intents and purposes, how can he become king if Duncan is already running the position? Executing Duncan was the only option in order for him to become king, at least to his regards. Despite his bad ambition, Macbeth is not happy about committing murder, not to the slightest. It's like if he'd close his eyes and reopened them (hoping to see things differently)

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1590 Words | 7 Pages

Ambition and self-fulfilling prophecies two seemingly unrelated things that are actually intertwined with one another. Ambition is the thing that drives many people to do the things they love. Self-fulfilling prophecies are a direct result of ambition by the person subconsciously doing things to get their foreseen future. These things help the advancement of people’s lives. It is part of life to want to succeed and have dreams be fulfilled.

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1476 Words | 6 Pages

Macbeth calls her his “dearest partner of greatness”, which indicates they have a close relationship, and he considers her equal to him. “Lady Macbeth must act and think "like a man" because good women are by definition subservient, and can exert no recognizable authority.” When there is the idea of murdering King Duncan, she takes control of the situation. She calls on the evil sprits saying, “unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full, of direst cruelty.” She needed to be male in order to kill Duncan because it was believed only men could commit murder, since women were too dainty to do

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1006 Words | 5 Pages

This gave Macbeth false security that anything he does according to his free will will produce the correct fate revealed to him by the witches. Lady Macbeth furthers this newfound faith in the witches as she takes matters in her own hands. She demands that Macbeth take the life of King Duncan, loyal friend of Macbeth, to maintain control of this

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673 Words | 3 Pages

This “future queen” sees the life she could have flash before her eyes and obviously Macbeth was hesitant because King Duncan was a honest man and Macbeth was a “servant” to him and he was family to Macbeth so he really didn’t want to go through with it. This fueled Lady Macbeth to conjure the death of King Duncan as well as covering it up. Lady Macbeth in Act 1, asked the spirits if they could “unsex” her so that she could ultimately be capable to go through with the killing. She felt like her husband (Macbeth) could not do her dirty work that she could wish that she could do herself.

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967 Words | 4 Pages

The first thing the witches told Macbeth is that he will end up being king of Scotland. “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king

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832 Words | 4 Pages

Macbeth chose to listen and accept the prophecy as truth even though he had no proof. Although the witches influence Macbeth they did not suggest to Macbeth to kill the king, he got that idea from his selfish thoughts. After the witches visit Macbeth he goes to his wife about his thoughts of killing the king. Lady Macbeth encourages murder because that’s the only way she thinks Macbeth can become king.

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805 Words | 4 Pages

Macbeth states to Lady Macbeth, “we will proceed no further in this business” (I, VII) since he almost finally decides to refuse to kill Duncan. However, Lady Macbeth uses different manipulative methodologies towards Macbeth and persuades him to consult the killing of Duncan. “So green and pale” (I, VII), Lady Macbeth even called him a coward. From the same scene, she mentions, “From this time, such I account thy love”, implying that if Macbeth cant stay steady concerning the murder of the king, then she will consider his love for her to be as similarly conflicting. Later in scene, Lady Macbeth states that if she had made such a promise as Macbeth did to her, she would “dash the brains out” of her own child as “it was smiling in her fail”.

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780 Words | 4 Pages

Lady Macbeth is power hungry for the throne and she will do anything to achieve her goal. Her pleasure of having the thought of killing Duncan is revealed. These murderous thoughts that run through her mind shows how desperate she is to acquire power. Although it is the beginning of the play, her dark ambitions sets a dark tone for her character in the play. This coincidentally adds to the assurance of Macbeth’s prophecy which is that Macbeth will become king, but King Duncan is still alive.

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876 Words | 4 Pages

The witches played a colossal role in Macbeth’s downfall and ultimately, his death. Since the first part of the prophecy stated Macbeth as being the new Thane of Cawdor, he believed he could continue to become king as well. In knowing his prediction, Macbeth also realized that since the king was in good health, so he would have to kill the king himself. For the rest of his prophecy to come true he would have to kill the king for himself. “All hail, Macbeth that shalt be king hereafter!”

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608 Words | 3 Pages

The most prominent example, in my opinion, was that she said she could not get the blood off of her hands. In my opinion Lady Macbeth is more responsible for King Duncan’s murder, and Macbeth’s treason, than Macbeth himself. Upon hearing the prophecy of the witches,

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