Here are the notes from March 10th when we looked at Act 1.7 of Macbeth.
Reasons to Not Kill Duncan according to Macbeth
- Duncan is his relative-they’re family.
- He is Duncan’s host and is charged with his safety and protection.
- Duncan is a good King and man and has given Macbeth nothing to warrant his death.
- Macbeth has no cause to murder Duncan except for his hunger for ambition and power.
How Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to Murder Duncan:
- By MCB backing out of their plan, LMB sees MCB as a coward and NOT a man.
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- LMB equates / connects ACTION and AMBITION with masculinity.
- LMB emasculates and shames MCB
- She takes the image of a loving and nurturing mother and tears it to pieces (the part where LMB says she would kill her own child if she had promised her husband she would do it)
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- She proves that not only does she have more power in their relationship, she is stronger, fearless, and devoid of human emotions.
- MCB knows that if he doesn’t kill Duncan he will be forever shamed in the eyes of his wife-whom he loves- and she will never respect him again.