One of William Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, Macbeth, tells a story of ambition and greed in Macbeth's character, and manipulation in Lady Macbeth's. Lady Macbeth is the drive and force that makes the play's plot what it is, and keeps it moving along. In certain situations, females can be the downfall of men. Shown in the play Macbeth is how Macbeth is influenced by his wife. Not only can she influence him greatly, but with ease, usually by ridiculing his masculinity. She has almost complete control over him, her being the one whom 'wears the pants' in their relationship. This is an example of pathetic fallacy, as during the time period that Macbeth took place in, women were less than equal and dominated by their husbands. Although Lady Macbeth has cruel intentions and her actions lead to her remorse (committing suicide), her character justly represents the power that females have that is not always recognized.
             Granting her dark thoughts, Lady Macbeth is a very smart woman. She always knows exactly what to say to get Macbeth to do what she wants. Without her extra pushes, Macbeth would have prospered and disregarded his thoughts of murdering Duncan. This is proved in Macbeth's soliloquy where he contemplates the reasons why it is a terrible thing to kill Duncan in Act I, Scene VII, lines 1-28, especially where he states "...that but this blow Might be the be-all and end-all here," (1:7:5). In saying this, he shows how he realizes that his murdering King Duncan would lead to his remorse. Regardless, shortly after Lady Macbeth makes him believe just the opposite. She challenges his manhood, apprising him "When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be so much more then man" (1:7:56). She essentially tells him he is not a man if he does not commit the deed, but a coward instead. Her words are very powerful and her intelligence level is distinguished by her...