Commentary on Macbeth Essay

The play Macbeth involves a gripping story line. The story line is helped significantly by the main characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. These characters are either easily persuaded or are great persuaders. Act 1 Scene 7 reveals this in the characters.

Macbeth is a man that is strong of heart yet he is persuaded easily. He has left the crowd and convinces to himself that he will not go through with the murder of Duncan. : -

I have no spur to pride the sides of my intent (1,vii)

Macbeth overviews the situation and as he does so we see a slither of the good man that the king has grown to love. He is troubled by the fact that the king has been so good to him. : -

first, as I am his kinsman and subject .... Than as his host (1,vii)

Lady Macbeth enters and asks why Macbeth has strayed from the party. Lady Macbeth is disgusted by the news that Macbeth will not go through with the deed. : -

Was the hope drunk, Wherein you dressed yourself (1,vii)

She goes about persuading Macbeth, calling upon his manhood to hit a heart string of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is ruthless, undaunted, evil and without moral when convincing Macbeth. : -

.... the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out has I so sworn As you have (1,vii)

She says it is better to have tried than to not have done and wondered what could of been.

From this scene we see that Macbeth has his own pure thoughts but is easily persuaded. After Lady Macbeth finishes speaking Macbeth does not take time to rethink but jumps straight back into his decision of the murder off Duncan. Macbeth is vulnerable and seeks acceptance from his own wife. : -

when we marked with blood those sleepy two, of his own chamber and used their very daggers. (1,vii)

From this we see Macbeths thoughts turning evil and furthering his wife's plot with foul ideas of his own.

Lady Macbeth is a very vicious woman. She has, so to speak, the gift of the gab. She chastises Macbeth into doing whatever she pleases. : -

Hie thee hither, (Macbeth) That I may pour my spirits into thine ear, and speak with the valour of my tongue. (1,v)

Lady Macbeth is intent on improving her way of life and will stop at nothing to do so. To others Lady Macbeth appears as bright bubbly personality but little do they no it hides an evil spirit. Lady Macbeth goes outside the bounds of gender and who evilness out bounds even through the fact that she is female.

And so Act 1 Scene 7 reveals the overview of the characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. It sets the mood of the characters for the rest of the play and gives us a great insight into the working of their minds.