Macbeth and Lady Macbeth - Who Has the Greater Guilt? :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Greater Guilt - Macbeth or Lady Macbeth ? Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is an exciting story containing all kinds of plots and murders. The characters that are killing and are planning murders are all very deceiving and treacherous. Two of the most dangerous criminals in this play are Lady Macbeth and her husband. Together they commit the most dreadful murder by killing the King; Duncan. This is why it is difficult to determine which one of these two carries the greatest guilt, because they each do their own part in committing the crime.   Lady Macbeth would prepare the plan and then encourage Macbeth to go through with it.   Macbeth did the actual murdering, he was also the first person who thought about killing Duncan. Furthermore he did some killing on his own. Lady Macbeth did not have any involvement in these cases.   Based on these facts, Macbeth would be found more guilty than Lady Macbeth. The very first murder in this story   was committed on Duncan. This crime was planned by both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The actual murder was done by Macbeth, making him more guilty of the crime.   Lady Macbeth just talked about committing the crime, but she never actually went through with it nor would she ever, and that is all that counts.   Talking about committing the incident is very different from actually doing it.   Lady Macbeth did a little more than just talk about it though. She also urged Macbeth into doing it and that is what makes her part of this crime, but she is not as guilty as Macbeth.   He really didn't have to listen to what his wife said. Macbeth had a mind of his own and he could make his own decision.   The other murders that Macbeth was involved in were not committed by him, but were ordered by him. The people who did the killing had no choice, they had to do it, because they worked for Macbeth.   Macbeth knew this and was a bit more guilty in t hese murders then lady Macbeth was when she urged him.