Arkeya Knight
September 23, 2012
AP Lit. Comp.
3A

Women Overpowering Men – Macbeth Analysis Essay
In “Macbeth”, William Shakespeare uses diction, metaphor and simile to describe how to much power can make an individual have conflict within them and sacrifice anything for it. Shakespeare also used the Feminist Theory to show how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth went against each other. In the story “Macbeth”, three witches approach Macbeth and tell him one day he would become king. Macbeth begins to have self-fulfilling prophecy and he went after the throne. Macbeth let his wife, Lady Macbeth; conceive him into murdering people to get the throne. Lady Macbeth felt that Macbeth was weak so she started to go against her husband in order to keep the authority and power in her hands. Lady Macbeth has more strength and power then Macbeth. By letting Lady Macbeth take control over the situation, it made her gain more power and the upper right hand over Macbeth. Macbeth had thoughts about murdering King Duncan, but Lady Macbeth convinced him to make King Duncan his first victim. “Were you drunk when you seemed so hopeful before? Have you gone to sleep and woken up green and pale in fear of this idea? From now on this is what I’ll think of your love. Are you afraid to act the way you desire? Will you take the crown you want so badly, or will you live as coward, always saying “I can’t” after you say “I want to”? You’re like the poor cat in the old story” (Act 1, Scene 7, lines 35-42). Lady Macbeth is trying to persuade Macbeth to take the crown from King Duncan meaning he would have to kill him to get it and if Macbeth doesn’t take the crown, they would be poor and helpless. Also, she is questioning how much courage and heart he has if he let fear overcome it. Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth don’t have enough authority and power for the crown. “But I worry about whether or not you have what it takes to seize the crown. You are too full of the milk of human kindness to strike aggressively at your first opportunity” (Act 1, Scene 5, lines 4-8). Lady Macbeth considers Macbeth to be more on the soft side then the tough side. She thinks he can’t handle the crown properly or be his own man. Lady Macbeth feels she have enough power, strength and authority to do a man’s job right. She has so much authority over Macbeth, which it makes him weak and helpless. In Act 1, Lady Macbeth wanted God to “unsex” her and make all of her female features disappear, since Macbeth was acting more like the wife in the marriage. In Act 1 of “Macbeth” Shakespeare showed how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth let power control their marriage. Macbeth allowed Lady Macbeth to gain more power and strength then him. Lady Macbeth started to feel that Macbeth didn’t have enough authority or power for the crown and she felt she could do a man’s job better then Macbeth.