Lady Macbeth's Motives

The witches Macbeth encounters at the beginning of the play are the primary motive for Macbeth’s actions. They manipulate Macbeth and lead him to unlawful actions. The witches prognosticate that Macbeth will be king: “All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter.” (1.3.53). Macbeth begins to envisage himself as king, and the obstacles he must overcome to be crowned: “The prince of Cumberland! that is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o”er-leap, / For in my way it lies.” (1.4.55-57). Macbeth believes the witches prognostication and the words continuously weigh on his mind. He acts upon the prophecy and ultimately becomes king; however, he dreads that his position as king will be seized. Macbeth visits the witches once again and

Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him. (4.1.98-102)

Macbeth is at ease knowing those who seek revenge on him will not defeat him. The witches tell Macbeth what the future holds for him; however, Lady Macbeth motivates Macbeth into doing the nefarious deeds that must be fulfilled in order to become king. After hearing the revelation, Macbeth writes Lady Macbeth a letter explaining what the future holds and she immediately wants Macbeth to act. Macbeth chooses not stay loyal to Duncan; however, Lady Macbeth insults him by questioning his manhood and coerces Macbeth into agreement: “When you durst do it, then you were a man;” (1.7.54). Macbeth is evidently intimidated by his wife. Subsequently, Lady Macbeth arranges the procedure to murder Duncan: Will I with wine and wassel so convince, That memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason A limbeck only when in swinish sleep Their drenched natures lie as in a death,

Come, let me clutch thee. / I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.” (2.1.40-42). Lady Macbeth is an accomplice of the murder as she set up the dagger for Macbeth in Duncan’s room: “I laid their daggers ready; / He could not miss ‘em.” (2.2.15-16). Ensuing the murder, Macbeth keeps the dagger; however, Lady Macbeth returns the blade to Duncan’s room. This puts blood on her hands and she is ashamed: “My hands are of your colour, but I shame / To wear a heart so white.” (2.2.81-82). Lady Macbeth bullies Macbeth into murdering Duncan; however, ultimately, Macbeth is the one who decides upon his