Betrayal, secrets and cold blooded murder are all things that can be found in Shakespeare's theatrical masterpiece, "Macbeth." This is a well-known tragedy of a man so driven by greed that he would kill not only the King, but also his good friend. It is easy to see that it was Macbeth who killed King Duncan but was there a stronger force than just his own greed that drew the dagger? Lady Macbeth is responsible for the death of King Duncan and therefore more evil than Macbeth. .
The first time that Lady Macbeth enters the play she is speaking to herself and trying to conjure evil spirits. She has just received a letter from Macbeth telling her of how he had spoken to the weird sisters and told her that they had prophesied that he would be king. They had also prophesied that he would become Thane of Cawdor which had already come true. Macbeth also tells her the King would be their guest that night. As soon as she learns about the Kings visit her first thought is of killing him. Lady Macbeth speaks of how the prophecy must be fulfilled at all costs. Macbeth is fine with letting the prophecy come true in its own time. Lady Macbeth is impatient, she wants to become queen and her greed is taking over her decisions. Right from the beginning it is Lady Macbeth who speaks of killing the king.
Lady Macbeth is the more dominant one in their relationship and manipulates Macbeth into killing the King. When Macbeth decides that killing the King is wrong Lady Macbeth proceeds to emasculate 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" (Act 1, Scene 7- lines 56 and 57). When he asks about failing she then challenges him. "But screw your courage to the sticking place and we'll not fail" (Act 1, Scene 7- lines 70 and 71). In this era it would have been very different to see such a dominant female role but it is very easy to notice that Lady Macbeth holds the power in their relationship.
