Some Thespians state: "It was because Lady Macbeth had called Macbeth a coward, that challenged Macbeth to commit the horrid deed."
Was it simply name-calling William Shakespeare had penned to move his "character of Macbeth" to commit the horrid deed, or was Shakespeare's Macbeth to be moved by temptation?
Let's review the scripture of Act 1 Scene 7 more closely, and see.NOTE: Our substitute text of dialogue in BOLD (far below) acts only as a very basic assistance for those unfamiliar with works of Shakespeare. Please refer to the "Shakespeare Made Easy" Publication of the play of Macbeth for a universal agreed version of what the original text states in modern day English.
Macbeth: "We will proceed no further in this business:
He hath honour'd me of late; and I have bought
Golden opinions from all sorts of people,
Which would be worn now in their newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon"
Lady Macbeth: "Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress'd yourself? Hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely? From this time
Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that
Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life,
And live a coward in thine own esteem,
Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would,"
Like the poor cat i' the adage? "
Macbeth: "Prithee, peace!
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none"
Q: Thus far in dialogue exchange, Lady Macbeth had already called Macbeth a coward, a fraidy cat?
Q: Thus far, was Lady Macbeth successful with her name-calling to move Shakespeare's Macbeth to commit the Horrid deed?
Lady Macbeth: - "What beast was't, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? (Where's the Monster that was within you when you shared your plan with me?) When you durst do it, (when you were daring to commit such) then you were a man; (then I honored you as a KING) And, to be more than what you were,(to have the nerve to take what is yours) you would Be so much more the man. (you were then King to me) Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both (what's the matter with you now): They have made themselves, (The prophecies came true before your very eyes) and that their fitness now Does unmake you.(and now with their assurance of success of the deed, you stall) I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:(I would not spare any child from my womb) I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums, And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this." (If it meant forsaking my agreement with you)."
Q: Was it really the harping of Lady Macbeth in the above challenging Macbeth's manhood (calling him a coward) that "fueled" Macbeth to finally commit the horrid deed, or some temptation (They have Made Themselves) assuring success?
Q: Do many seem to think it was because Lady Macbeth had simply called Macbeth a coward that had moved Macbeth to commit the horrid deed?
Q: In the above dialogue given to Lady Macbeth by Shakespeare, is there sufficient evidence to prove it may have been the temptation (they have made themselves) that had moved Shakespeare's Macbeth?
After all, Macbeth became thane of Cawdor just as the witches had predicted right before his eyes?
Q: Did William Shakespeare mean for his "character of Macbeth" to be simply moved by name-calling?
Q: Do you think the theory of Lady Macbeth simply calling Macbeth a coward should be re-evaluated?
