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Strength and Weakness in Macbeth

 

            In Shakespeare's play "Macbeth," we see the two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, show both boldness and weakness. Throughout the play they both go through their own dramatic transformations. We read as Lady Macbeth changed from a confident and bold woman to a weak, suicidal, nervous wreck. On the other hand, Macbeth went from a weak and scared man to a bold and daring one. In my opinion, this play was written to perfection and Shakespeare thought quite deeply about every aspect and wanted his readers to get just as mesmerized by his play as he did.
             Early in the play, Shakespeare develops the strengths of Lady Macbeth as contrasted with the weaknesses of her husband. For example, Lady Macbeth states, "What beast was't then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more a man. Nor time nor place did then adhere, and yet you would make both. They have made themselves, and that their fitness now does unmake you. I have given suck, and know tender tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this." (Act I, Sc.VII) This quote from the play, shows that Lady Macbeth is both good and evil. Lady Macbeth shows extreme confidence in her doings. She doesn't seem to second guess her choices because of that confidence. Now Macbeth shows weakness when he second guesses his plan and wants to immediately back out because he is frightened by the consequences. He shows this when he says, "If we should fail?" (Act I, Sc.VII) He mentions this after he portrays a scheme to Lady Macbeth. His weakness gets the better of him many times in the beginning of the play, while Lady Macbeth's confidence overpowers her and she wants to go ahead with the murder of Macdonwald and is determined.


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