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Steven Gutterman

Mrs. Davenport

English 9 Honors

8 March 2017

Lady Macbeths Resources of Language

Power is a feeling that every human on the planet craves at some point in their lives.

Discussions regarding this intense and intriguing emotion can pose a few questions for people.

These may be questions pertaining to who actually has power in the world and who actually runs

everything behind the scenes. The answers to these are touched on in the play Macbeth by

William Shakespeare. Within this play, there is Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman, and his wife,

Lady Macbeth. On the outside, Lady Macbeth appears as though she is a gentle, affectionate

woman. However, once the reader sees what happens in private, they discover that she is vile and

sinister. Through the use of pathos, logos, and imagery, Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to

carry out Duncans murder, showcasing that impressionable people are often controlled and

taken advantage of by the more dominant.

In the beginning of Act 1, scene vii, Macbeth is seen questioning himself as to whether or

not he should go through with the plan to murder Duncan. At the end of this soliloquy, he decides

not to see it through. He states, I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only /

Vaulting ambition, which oerleaps itself (1.7.25-27). Macbeth realizes that there is nothing

driving his desire to kill Duncan besides his own ambition. Moments after, Lady Macbeth enters

the scene. She learns that he decided not to kill Duncan and immediately begins to verbally

assault him. During this time, Macbeths disposition gets criticized and questioned, showing that
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pathos is being used to make Macbeth consent to the things he is pressured by Lady Macbeth to

do. Lady Macbeth states,

Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard

to be the same in thine own act and valor

As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that

Which thou esteemst the ornament of life,

And live a coward in thine own esteem... (1.7.43-47)

She calls Macbeth a coward and questions his manliness, evoking an emotional response from

him. Knowing that he does not like to be classified as such, she mentions these characteristics he

supposedly has to make him change his mind. Based on the exchange regarding Macbeths

courageousness the two of them had, it is apparent that Macbeth is self-conscious about himself

in this respect. He recognizes in his mind that he is not a tenacious person, but hearing it said by

his own wife causes him to feel pitiful. To redeem himself and to make himself appear more

valiant in front of his wife, he thinks he has to go through with the murder. The reason she called

him a coward in the first place was because he backed out of the murder plan. Lady Macbeth is

giving the impression that he has to go through with it to not be a coward. So, based on these

words, Macbeth will be more likely to commit the act.

Shortly afterwards, Lady Macbeth uses another resource of language to her advantage:

logos. She states,

When Duncan is asleep

...his two chamberlains

Will I with wine and wassail so convince

When in swinish sleep

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Their drenched nature lies as in a death,

What cannot you and I perform upon

Th unguarded Duncan? what not put upon

His spungy officers, who shall bear the guilt

Of our great quell? (1.7.69,71-72,75-80)

Lady Macbeth is explaining what the plan is to Macbeth. This plan is logical and makes sense, or

at least it appears as though it does. It will help ensure that they are not caught. This is

advantageous for Macbeth as a fear of his is being found guilty for the death by the citizens of

Scotland. Since this fear is mitigated if this specific plan is followed, then Macbeth is more

willing to undertake Lady Macbeths proposal. The plan was purposely made to be logical by

Lady Macbeth because she wants him to take the risk and kill Duncan. Even though Macbeth

stated logical reasons as to why he should not commit the crime, Lady Macbeths strategy still

makes him reconsider. All the detailed, rational information about the crafty scheme causes

Macbeth to visualize a situation where if he executes the plan, he will benefit in any outcome. In

the event that Macbeth is accepted by the Scottish citizens to be the next king after Duncans

death, Macbeth will be king, which is what he initially desired. If Duncans death results in

Malcolm, Duncans son, being crowned king, then Macbeth will not be king but will still not be

accused of the murder. There is seemingly no way for Macbeth to suffer.

Imagery is used by Lady Macbeth in her attempt to convince Macbeth to carry out the

plan. She states,

I have given suck, and know

How tender tis to love the babe that milks me;

I would, while it was smiling in my face,

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Have pluckd my nipple from his boneless gums,

and dashd the brains out, had I so sworn as you

Have done to this. (1.7.60-65)

Here, Lady Macbeth is conveying the message that she would slaughter her own child if she was

told to do so. It is a highly graphic and disturbing idea that paints a horrid image in the readers

mind. However, she is being highly descriptive on purpose. The point she is trying to make is

that she would commit an act as horrible as murdering an infant if she had earlier promised she

would do it. The illustration that Lady Macbeth paints is highly vivid, gruesome, and specific to

show to Macbeth what she would do in his current dilemma. This scenario is being compared to

what is actually happening in the play, showing the difference between the two individuals

ideas. If Lady Macbeth is willing to kill her child if she previously agreed to it, then she believes

Macbeth should be willing to kill Duncan if he previously agreed to it. As Macbeth begins to

comprehend this idea, it becomes increasingly plausible for him to execute the murder because

of how his wife judges the situation. He wants to stay on Lady Macbeths positive side. In order

to do this, he has to do what she desires, which means he has to assassinate Duncan.

By the end of Act 1, scene vii, Lady Macbeth manages to influence Macbeth into killing

Duncan using pathos, logos, and imagery. Throughout the first act of the play Macbeth by

William Shakespeare, the reader uncovers that Lady Macbeth has control over Macbeths

actions. The events in the seventh scene help to solidify this thought in the readers mind. In a

broader sense, Macbeths and Lady Macbeths relationship reveals information that applies to the

real world. It presents ideas as to how the impressionable are often driven by the views of the

more persuasive and assertive.

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