Moon 1

Sara Moon

Mrs. Davenport

English 9 Honors

8 March 2017

Lady Macbeth Essay

Did women hold any power over men during the time of Macbeth? Macbeth, a play

written by William Shakespeare, takes place around the eleventh century when women were not

seen as equal to men. Lady Macbeth proves this wrong by manipulating her husband, Macbeth,

into killing Duncan, the king. She is able to show how much of an effect words have on someone

by using an allusion to an adage, pathos, and rhetorical questions.

By referring to an adage about a cat, Lady Macbeth shows how much of a coward

Macbeth is. She says to him And live a coward in thine own esteem, / Letting I dare not wait

upon I would, / Like the poor cat i the adage? (1.7.47-49). The adage Lady Macbeth mentions

is about a cat that wanted a fish, but it feared getting its paws wet. Macbeths ambition means

nothing if he cannot have the courage to do it. The allusion to this proverb fits perfectly with

Lady Macbeths explanation of what Macbeths problem is. His fears stop him from overtaking

the crown because he does not want it badly enough. Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth into

killing Duncan by showing him how weak and pathetic he is. Her words have a massive effect on

Macbeths actions.

In order to convince Macbeth into killing the king, Lady Macbeth appeals to his emotions

through pathos. She says to him When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more

than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man (1.7.55-57). These words bring out

anger and shame from Macbeth. He is angered by the fact that his wife said he was a man but
now is not. The shame comes from not being able to live up to his wifes definition of a man.

Killing Duncan and fulfilling his promise is the only way Macbeth can prove himself to his wife.

The emotions that he is feeling will blind him into achieving Lady Macbeths desires. Causing

someone to feel certain emotions can lead them to doing anothers will.

The use of rhetorical questions influences Macbeth as well. Frequently asking Macbeth

questions causes him to adjust his views. Lady Macbeth starts questioning him with

Was the hope drunk wherein you dressd yourself?

Hath it slept since?

And wakes it now to look so green and pale

At what it did so freely? (1.7.39-42).

Questioning his sobriety when he agreed to their arrangement is to show much of a fickle mind

Macbeth has. This rhetorical question makes Macbeth want to stay firm on his standing on

killing the king and to stand with his wife. Later, she asks him What beast wast then / That

made you break this enterprise to me? (1.7.53-54). The asker, Lady Macbeth, wants to know

what terrifying beast could have forced her partner to break their agreement. She asks what beast

to make it seem like only something horrendous should have been able to change Macbeths

mind when really it just himself. The point in doing that is to make him feel guilty for backing

out of their plan. The effect questioning someone has on a person can really change his or her

mind.

Convincing her husband to kill someone shows how powerful Lady Macbeth and words

are. The use of an allusion, pathos, and rhetorical questions shows how influential words are.

They can alter a persons values and beliefs depending on how easily manipulated that person

can be.