Essay Sample on Lady Macbeth Responsible For Duncan's Death

The ground bloody, silent but so loud, a murder in the castle has ensued… but by who? King Duncan has been killed by Macbeth, but Macbeth is not the only individual responsible for the murder. Lady Macbeth is the most responsible role in the killing of King Duncan compared to Macbeth, then the witches. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, King Duncan was killed, making Lady Macbeth the most responsible of the murder.  

The witches are the least responsible for the death of King Duncan. They planted the seed that started Macbeth’s ambition to become king. While the witches talk to Macbeth they preach, “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” 1.3.53. This makes Macbeth very confused. He becomes the Thane of Cawdor, this makes him very ambitious to become king. The witches only planted the seed of this chaos, they are now out of the picture and it’s now in the hands of the Macbeth’s. This proves the witches are the least responsible for the murder of King Duncan. 

Macbeth is very easily manipulated and influenced by other people. Macbeth was persuaded by both Lady Macbeth and the witches. During Macbeth’s ambitious beginnings he asked this, “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me without my stir” 1.4.157. He gave into Lady Macbeth and her verbal abuse. This constant manipulation from Lady Macbeth drove him to believe that it was his only choice to kill the king. Macbeth gave into the persuasion, he became too greedy for power and listened to his evil wife. 

Lady Macbeth was the most responsible for King Duncan’s death. She made Macbeth do the deed, but she is what drove him to do so. Although Lady Macbeth is portrayed as the kind person she says this, “Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes'' 1.5.57. Lady Macbeth twisted and manipulated Macbeth into killing the king. She made the plan to kill Duncan, she also killed the guards. Before all of this happened she prayed to be evil to the witches. She was behind it all, but used Macbeth as a tool to take over the throne. She would belittle Macbeth to make him feel cowardly, eventually leading to him killing the king. 

Lady Macbeth was the most responsible for Duncan’s death.