Lady Macbeth :: Literary Analysis, Shakespeare

The play Macbeth was written by Shakespeare in the early 1600's. There have been many papers and many different thoughts about the play. This paper, though, is over who is the stronger character, Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? Macbeth is the weaker character of the play. The play is about a nobleman of the King of Scotland, Macbeth, who is told by witches that he could possibly become king if he did a terrible deed. They also showed his right hand man, Banquo, a prediction as well. That his bloodline will lead to kings. The deed that Macbeth has to commit is to kill the king and take his place. Macbeth tells his wife, Lady Macbeth, about the prediction the witches and she continues to encourage him until he does kill the king and scared off the king's sons so he can become king himself. He becomes king and the witches that showed him being king came around again and showed Macbeth another prediction. The prediction showed that Banquo's family will become king and will lead to more kings. Macbeth decides to kill Banquo and his son but his son gets away. One of the sons of the now dead king returns with an army and attacks Macbeth at his own castle. Macduff, one of the many people affected by Macbeth's rise to power, engaged Macbeth during the attack and beheaded Macbeth in the end. After the battle, Malcolm, one of the sons of the slain king, took power of Scotland and the play ends. Macbeth, at the very beginning of the play, demonstrated just how weak of a character he is. He lets the three witches who meet him at the start of the play continue to speak there poisonous, twisted words "Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more..."(1.3, 70-71). He lets their words fester in the back of his mind until he goes mad with greed. He also shows his weakness by listening and believing the words of the witches, which he knows are not to be trusted "Your children shall be king..."(1.3, 86-88). He tells his wife about the witches predictions, who then continues to press upon him the need to fulfill his, at that time, "destiny". Macbeth finally succumbs to the nags of his wife "Prithee, peace! I dare do all..." (1.7, 45-47). Throughout the continuation of the play, Macbeth continues to show his weakness and lack of a spine.