Who influenced Macbeth to kill?
By Morgan McIntosh
Lady Macbeth is Responsible for the influence of Macbeth's behavior
Lady Macbeth is responsible for the horrible behavior Macbeth acted with by criticizing him and persuading him to commit the murder. Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth's reluctance to kill King Duncan as "Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem..." (Shakespeare Act I Scene 6 43). Lady Macbeth wishes King Duncan's death by saying, "O, never shall sun that morrow see!" (Shakespeare Act I Scene 5 35). This shows that Lady Macbeth was very committed to the idea of King Duncan being dead so Macbeth could receive the crown and Lady Macbeth the title of Queen. Lady Macbeth also gives off the illusion that it is okay to murder and you just have to act normal after the dead is done. She says, "My royal lord, you do not give the cheer. The feast is sold that is not often vouched, while 'tis a-making, 'tis given welcome. To feed were best at home. From thence, the sauce to meat is ceremony; meeting were bare without it" (Shakespeare Act III Scene 4 99). This gives Macbeth the idea that murdering innocent people is okay as long as he doesn't act like anything happened.
Literary Devices Found in Macbeth
One literary device found in Macbeth is an analogy. Early in the play, a captain describes two armies through an allusion by saying, "Doubtful it stood, as two spent swimmers that do cling together and choke their art" (Shakespeare Act I Scene 2 9). This is describing the two armies as being exhausted and unable to fight. A tragedy is shown in Macbeth by the death of King Duncan. The king is found and "Confusion now hath made his masterpiece! Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the Lord's anointed temple and stole thence the life o' the building" (Shakespeare Act II Scene 3 65). This tragedy of murder was the starting point of Macbeth's string of horrible behaviors and unnecessary crimes. This tragedy was just the beginning of more to come. Another literary device found in Macbeth is imagery, which is used to describe where the witches plan to meet the next time. The witches say "When shall we three meet again in thunder, lightening, or in rain?" to convey to the reader that where they are going to meet is going to be a dark, scary and dangerous place, and maybe even dangerous.
A Connection to Macbeth
The song "Stay With Me" by Sam Smith is a perfect connection to Macbeth because of the similarity of the two main characters doing whatever it takes to make their lover stay with them. Macbeth is committing the murders so his wife, Lady Macbeth, will stay with him and stop criticizing him as a man. Sam Smith is begging his lover to continue to be in a relationship with him and will do any possible thing in order for them to stay with him, much like Macbeth with Lady Macbeth.
Sam Smith - Stay With Me
Connection to Macbeth
The book Gone by Michael Grant is an accurate connection to Macbeth through the actions of power hungry individuals. Macbeth murders King Duncan for the throne and title of king and continues to commit the same gruesome crime in order to keep his position. In the book Gone kids in the FAYZ behave in a cruel way to others to ensure they have more power over the community. They steal, attack, and even killed another kid to show intimidation and to show they intended to be in control of everything. Both of these sources of literature show the cruel and evil side of people who have are greedy for power.