Here for the last time we see Macbeth a free man, still capable of choice between good and evil. The motives that are at work to deter him from committing the murder, fear of the consequences in this world, mingled feelings of kinship, loyalty, and hospitality, admiration for Duncan's goodness, are not, perhaps, of the highest moral character; but in comparison with the reckless lust of power which urges him on, they are certainly motives for good. The conflict rages in his soul, and it seems as if the powers of good were triumphing, before Lady Macbeth enters.

She also goads him by questioning his manhood and by comparing his willingness to go through with Duncan's murder with his ability to carry out a sexual act on her (Throughout the play, whenever Macbeth shows signs of faltering, Lady Macbeth implies that he is less than a man): From this time Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire? She then calls him a coward. This is powerful stuff! Macbeth is a soldier and a 'man's man' and is greatly affected by these accusations. She knows exactly what buttons to press. By telling him he won't satisfy her sexually if he doesn't murder Duncan - because he will not be manly enough to do so and she will forever after see him as a weak, feeble coward - she essentially seals the deal.

Macbeth's reaction is extremely bitter and angry as he exclaims: Prithee, peace (shut up!) I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none (I dare to do anything that is masculine and nobody else could do more) Here, Macbeth's masculine pride blinds him to the fact that she is deliberately manipulating him to do something that she herself is not prepared to do. And it works!

Lady Macbeth concludes by arguing that Macbeth had all but promised her he would kill Duncan. She goes on to reiterate that she will not regard him as a man unless he does the deed: When you durst do it, then you were a man These remarks manifest Lady Macbeth’s belief that manhood is defined by murder and violence. Macbeth's readiness to be goaded by her suggests that he feels the same way.

As this speech draws to a conclusion, the audience of the day would have been appalled by her claims: she says that she would have taken her new born child off her breast and smashed its head in if Macbeth had asked her to do so.

Macbeth then asks what they will do if their plan fails, telling the audience that he is now all but convinced by his wife: If we should fail? He is no longer suggesting he is happy with his current title and is now asking practical questions (note that he doesn't state what will happen if they fail, which of course he knows would be death. Instead, he asks her a question, knowing she will answer it and allay his fears).

Lady Macbeth continues to speak to him in a confident and calculating way: We fail? She goes on to say that if Macbeth twists his knife as soon as it enters Duncan's heart, he will manage to kill him almost instantly: Screw your courage to the sticking place Now that she has him convinced, she only needs to allay any last fears. She reveals a plan for him to follow: they must drug the guards and kill Duncan in his sleep.

Macbeth has turned around completely. He is aroused by her talk and is now as ready as she is. Macbeth exclaims that Lady Macbeth should “[b]ring forth men-children only” because she is so bold and courageous. Since he succumbs to Lady Macbeth’s wishes immediately following this remark, it seems that he is complimenting her and affirming her belief that courage and violence are masculine traits. He then promises to muster all his determination and ruthlessness in order to kill the King and acknowledges he must be DECEPTIVE with the King from now on, so no one suspects.

Why Is This Scene Important? *Firstly, it's a major turning point for Macbeth. He starts off the scene convinced he will not murder Duncan but by the end he is well on his way to becoming a murderer. *The relationship between M and LM is clearly shown. They are close and communicate with each other. BUT... *It demonstrates LM's dominance over Macbeth. She is ambitious for him and he is easily influenced by her. *It is dramatic, leaving the audience with a sense of anticipation – the murder of a king. *It highlights Macbeth's fatal flaw: the negative aspects of his ambitious nature.

The idea of a moral order is present in these scenes, albeit in muted form. Macbeth knows what he does is wrong, and he recognises that there will surely be consequences. His soliloquy reveals his awareness that he may be initiating a cycle of violence that will eventually destroy him:...bloody instructions... being taught, return / To plague th’inventor... Macbeth is not a good man at this point in the play, but he is not yet an evil one—he is tempted, and he tries to resist temptation. Macbeth’s resistance, however, is not vigorous enough to allow him to stand up to his wife’s ability to manipulate him.