Ms. Biliter
English III.
1/18/15
Macbeth Essay
In act 1 scene 7, Macbeth grows hesitant to go through with the plan Lady Macbeth formulated to murder the king. Lady Macbeth is then left with the task of convincing Macbeth back into going through with the plan. The first technique Lady Macbeth uses to manipulate Macbeth is that she challenges his masculinity. While Lady Macbeth talks with Macbeth, she says: “Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem” (1.7. 42-43) which calls him a coward and is aimed at forcing him into going through with the plan to prove that he is a man and isn't afraid. He replies to Lady Macbeth by saying “Prithee peace I dare do all that may become a man;” (1.7. 46-47) thus begging her to stop trying to force him to do something that he believes is morally wrong. Another technique Lady Macbeth uses to convince Macbeth to go through with her plan is that she questions his love and integrity. She tells Macbeth “How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I sworn as you have done this.” (1.7. 55-59) meaning that she would kill her own child if she promised him to do so and she wants him to keep his own promise by killing the king. Macbeth begins to reply to Lady Macbeth by saying the words “If we should fail” (1.7. 59) which basically shows that he is beginig to accept the plan but wants to make sure everything else goes through after. Around the end of the scene, Lady