Macbeth’s downfall is a huge factor in the famous play by William Shakespeare. He is tormented by guilt and pressed to do things that most humans would consider unimaginable. Yet there is something that pushed Macbeth to go through with the awful crime of murder. One may question who or what made Macbeth pursue the horrendous killing. Lady Macbeth is the one person that is at fault for Macbeth’s actions. With her devious ways she convinced Macbeth to commit a crime and now she must pay the ultimate price.

Lady Macbeth is an overbearing and tyrannical woman. She wanted her way to be the only choice, and Lady Macbeth wanted Duncan dead. She would do whatever it took to make sure that Duncan was murdered and her husband had all the power of Scotland. “Come, you spirits, unsex me here…come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall.” (Shakespeare 33 Line 48) Lady Macbeth is asking for her femininity to be seized so that she may be brave enough to commit the murder. Then, in Act 1 Scene 7, Lady Macbeth decides to give the awful deed to her husband. The couple discussed what would be happening that night, and finally agreed that the murder of Duncan would be the best for them. Then Macbeth says, “We will proceed no further in this business.” (41 Line 34) Lady Macbeth becomes very upset and questions Macbeth’s manhood. She snaps back with, “I have given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.” (43 Line 61) Lady Macbeth is saying that if Macbeth had told her to, she would have killed a baby. She is trying to guilt him into doing the deed and persuades him by telling Macbeth everything she would do for him out of love. Yet Macbeth has doubts. His inner self is pleading him not to do the crime, and his morals are taking over him. But Lady Macbeth is inclining him to go against what he believes. “If we should fail-“(43Line 68) This shows that Macbeth is having regrets about what he is about to go through with. Lady Macbeth is a tremendous part in forcing Macbeth to commit the murder of Duncan, the King of Scotland.

After Macbeth commits the crime, and Duncan is dead, he has a huge mental breakdown. “I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on ‘t again I dare not.” (59 Line 65) Macbeth is reflecting on the horrible deed that he’s done and cannot even imagine how he pulled through to do it. But Lady Macbeth tries to reassure him to make the murder seem okay. Macbeth says, “What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.” (59 Line 77) He is explaining that he doesn’t think any amount of water will wash away the blood of Duncan and the guilt of his. He will never be cleansed and the regret is overwhelming. Lady Macbeth interjects and soothes him with, “A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it, then! Your constancy hath left you unattended.” (59 Line 86) She is trying to make the murder less of a