Lady Macbeth's Manipulation and Persuasion

As Macbeth expresses doubts about the assassination plot, Lady Macbeth employs various manipulative tactics to convince him to follow through with their plan.

Quote: "Art thou afeard / To be the same in thine own act and valour, / As thou art in desire?"

Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth's masculinity and courage, implying that backing out of the plan would make him a coward. She uses several rhetorical strategies to persuade him:

1. Comparing him to a drunk who makes grand plans but lacks follow-through
2. Accusing him of being less of a man for hesitating
3. Presenting a shocking hypothetical scenario to demonstrate her own resolve

Example: Lady Macbeth claims she would dash out her own baby's brains if she had sworn to do so, emphasizing her commitment to their cause.

Her manipulative techniques highlight the theme of gender roles and expectations in the play, as she pushes Macbeth to prove his masculinity through violence.

Definition: Emasculation - The act of making a man feel less masculine or depriving him of his male role or identity.