Nature revolves around an innate balance. Everything has a respective place in the natural order, therein contributing to universal harmony. However, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this idea is corrupted to suit a different theme: “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” In essence, everything that is thought of as good is actually evil, and vice versa. This theme is evident through the switched roles of the protagonist, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, and their respective levels of responsibility for the murder of King Duncan. Whereas the actual murderer commonly retains the characteristics needed to commit murder in cold blood, in Macbeth, that idea is twisted.
Macbeth physically murders King Duncan, but maintains misgivings over doing so, while Lady
Macbeth orchestrates the murder plot, yet maintains only determination to continue. She sheds the mantle of the stereotypically submissive and innocent wife whose role is restricted to mainly observing her husband’s exploits, and takes on the role of a controlling and ruthless mastermind in arranging an elaborate plot to dethrone Duncan and install Macbeth as king. Ultimately, she is to blame for the murder because, while Macbeth does physically murder the king, it is she who orchestrates the murder and influences Macbeth to follow through with it.
Lady Macbeth’s role as the mastermind behind King Duncan’s murder cements her responsibility for his death. This role is evident when Lady Macbeth discusses the plot to murder
Duncan with