Feigning Innocence:
- Pretending to Faint:
When she realizes that Macbeth cannot compose himself during the banquet after seeing Banquo's ghost, Lady Macbeth pretends to faint to divert attention from him. Her act distracts others from Macbeth's erratic behavior and allows the guests to dismiss his episode as simple illness.
- Controlling Discourse:
During discussions about Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth carefully controls the narrative:
- Deflecting Blame: If someone voices suspicion toward Macbeth, she immediately turns the focus back on guiltless characters' behavior during the murder as evidence.
Manipulating Macbeth:
When Macbeth shows apprehension and emotional weakness after the crime, Lady Macbeth uses various manipulative tactics to strengthen his resolve:
Diminishing the Act:She downplays the significance of killing by referring to Duncan's murder as just a fleeting act, comparing it to "killing a small creature's life."