ing, his wife begins to push Macbeth towards the real act of murdering Duncan. Lady Macbeth thinks she knows exactly what Macbeth wants--becoming a king--and decides that she has to force her husband to do what he would never do without her support--to kill Duncan. She never really tries to gain much for herself and never mentions that she wants to be queen. She wants Macbeth to be king; she wants glory for him, not for herself. Lady Macbeth acts like a mother who forces her silly child to do the homework he doesn't want to do because she wants him to be successful in his life. She never questions the necessity of Macbeth becoming king and never pays attention to Macbeth's thoughts and opinion, just as mother would never care about her son's opinion about the 'stupid' homework. Macbeth's decision to "proceed no further in this business" (I.vii) was not even considered as a possible outcome by her. Lady Macbeth uses all the methods she can to convince her husband to murder Duncan. She uses Macbeth's love to her as an instrument saying that if he will not kill the king he really doesn't love her. She asks him if he is a man, tells him that he will be "so much more a man" after murdering Duncan. She gives Macbeth an example of how resolute and cruel he should be telling him that she--woman who is supposed to be kind and compassionate--would be able to kill her own child: I would, while it [baby] was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn As you have done to this. (I.vii.61-64) Lady Macbeth used the Macbeth's feelings towards her, his bravery, his ambitious nature, his vague desires as tools to make Macbeth to do what she thinks will bring him success and satisfaction. Witches and Lady Macbeth definitely tried to force Macbeth to kill Duncan and to continue the sequence of terrible murders. However, Macbeth was not a weak-willed puppet that others could easily control. He...
