Lady Macbeth's Role in Macbeth's Downfall

Having been written in the early 1600's, William Shakespeare's play Macbeth is even today, still one of the most well known tragedies of all time. In this play, the main character, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, commit crimes against their kingdom's regime which causes them both to experience rightful downfalls. Lady Macbeth is the main reason for their failure due to her thirst for power and her inhumane cruelty. The reason for Macbeth's defeat is mainly caused by his wife, as she persuades him to act upon his growing thoughts of murdering the present King Duncan. Lady Macbeth is also a vital cause for Macbeth's madness in the end, for she was dearly loved by him and when she committed suicide, the distortion she caused for her husband was unbearable to be dealt with.

At the start of the play, the audience is introduced to Macbeth, where it is heard that this character is loyal and kind and who fights for his country without hesitation or fear. Unfortunately, these traits start descending when his wife, the Lady Macbeth becomes involved with his thoughts. During Act 1, Macbeth sends a letter to his wife saying that he has met three witches giving him important prophecies; one of which was that he was going to become King in the near future. The letter also stated that because of Macbeth's heroic deeds, King Duncan was going to be feasting at their castle for dinner that night, and that they will have to prepare for his anticipated arrival. As Lady Macbeth read this letter, she began formulating a plan for Macbeth to become King faster than what the prophecies had foreseen which mainly revolved around disposing of King Duncan. At first Macbeth strongly disagrees for his honour leapt up in order to defend his king, but then later he agrees as Lady Macbeth pressures him into the decision; even going as far as to question his manhood. After committing the most horrible crime, Macbeth starts to have enraged feelings of guilt and sadness for he truly loved his king like any other knight should. Once again though, Lady Macbeth adds her input to this depressing situation when she tries to console him, telling him that no one will ever find out and that all they have to do to have this sin erased is to wash the blood off of their hands. By prompting Macbeth to kill the King and then rushing his feelings of guilt and sadness away after the crime had been committed, Lady Macbeth began fuelling the start of Macbeth's madness.

Furthermore, when Lady Macbeth commits suicide as matters become too frustrating for her, she adds even more to Macbeth's downfall. Having seen so much wrongful death and causing so much unjust pain to others, Macbeth ends up not even noticing or caring for his own wife's self-committing deal. Macbeth says: "She should have died hereafter" [V, V, 19] Macbeth states that she was going to die one day anyways which shows how inhumane he had become after