Macbeth

After hearing the prophecies, Macbeth is left is left stunned and is unable to speak; whereas Banquo continuesly asks questions. Macbeth starts thinking about the prophecies and his thoughts become frightening thoughts, they frighten Macbeth and also the audience. Macbeth, a valiant, nobleman, beginning to think about how he can become king and how he may have to kill Duncan to get there, isn’t really expected of him. “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical” Here he thinks of murder and how it is merely fantastical but it disturbs his whole being. However he tries to get rid of this thought and he declares that he will leave it to chance. “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir.” By Macbeth saying this it brings a relief to the audience as they see that such a valiant man wouldn’t commit this sin. Also the quote says to us that he doesn’t have to do anything; if he just leaves it to chance then it shall happen one day, without him having to kill Duncan. Through the character of Lady Macbeth, William Shakespeare tries implying to us that women don’t have such things as a natural motherly instinct, just that we teach ourselves how to be motherly. Therefore if women are determined to do something ‘manly’ then they are capable of accomplishing it by just teaching themselves and having perseverance. “ How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me… Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out”. Here Lady Macbeth is saying to her husband: Macbeth, that he is a coward if he isn’t going to go forward and do the deed (kill Duncan); she questions his manhood as she says that while her child is breast feeding, she will have the guts to kill them and not feel bad about it because it was something that was meant to be done for her to get what she wants. Therefore by her saying this an example, Macbeth feels challenged and is easily persuaded by her encouragement as he wants to show himself to be a great, valiant man, that does whatever he needs to, to get where he has to be. Women in the Elizabethan times were more behind the scenes, kept their thoughts to themselves. However Lady Macbeth seems to be the one in charge and Macbeth is the follower; she was the one who persuaded him by questioning and testing his manhood so it was obvious that Macbeth was going to prove her wrong and show her that he is truly a man with guts. On the other hand in “Romeo & Juliet”, Lady Capulet doesn’t mention a word in defense of her daughter- Juliet but lets Capulet have his own ways and be abusive towards Juliet for not obeying his commands.