In the texts, Macbeth by William Shakespeare and Antigone by Sophocles, the characters of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and Antigone each make a compelling argument to get their own way, but through the depth of her claim and the the use of her sister’s underlying principles Antigone made the strongest argument.
Macbeth's argument to the hired killers to murder Banquo and his son is not based on any ethical principle or sense of duty. He convinces them by appealing to their greed and offering them a reward: "I will both reward you and requite you" (Shakespeare 3.1 99). Macbeth's argument is based on his fear of Banquo's prophesied descendants taking the throne and his desire to maintain his power. He attempts to transfer a similar feeling to the murders, in order to further convince them, “Are you so gospeled / To pray for this good man and for his issue, / Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave / And beggared yours forever?” (Shakespeare 3.1 88-91). Macbeth’s argument lacks any moral
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She questions his manhood and suggests that he will be a coward if he fails to seize the opportunity to become king, “Wouldst thou have that / Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life, / And live a coward in thine own esteem, / Letting “I dare not” wait upon ‘I would,’” (Shakespeare 1.7 22). Still not satisfied with her argument, Lady Macbeth dares to bring up their commitment to each other: “I would, while it was smiling in my face, / Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums / And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you / Have done to this” (Shakespeare 1.7 22-23). Her argument is based on power and dominance, and she manipulates Macbeth's insecurities to achieve her goal. However, because her claim lacks a moral foundation her actions express guilt from both responsible