Macbeth, Shakespeare

Although Lady Macbeth might be seen as a “literary monster” by some, I argue that Macbeth and her are built from the same cloth. They are both literary monsters.

Macbeth is amazed by the witches prophecy and almost immediately begins to wonder to himself whether the reign will fall to him or whether he will have to perform a horrible act in order to obtain the crown. The place where Macbeth’s mind goes, to only two places, shows who he is.

Macbeth doesn’t give all the responsibility of the prophecy coming true to destiny. He knows that the other option isn’t only to take into his own hands–but also to do something horrible.

Macbeth also can not stop thinking about the horrible act he might have to do in order to obtain the crown, as he notes that Malcolm has been made heir to the throne and now stands between him and the reign.

Lady Macbeth also shows her true colors, right away. As Lady Macbeth reads a letter that she has received from Macbeth, the first thing she does is murmur to herself that while Macbeth is ambitious, he is too kind to take the steps necessary to make himself king.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both literary monster. They both jumped at the first taste of ambition, power, and glory and were ready from the start to do the horrible things necessary to acquire it.