Hi there. I have to write a paper on why some people believe that Lady Macbeth could be Duncan's daughter. I don't need help in writing it, I just want to know reasons why that could be true. I believe one of them is because Lady Macbeth knew that she could not be queen since she could not takeover the throne herself, which is why she keeps pressuring Macbeth to kill the King himself.
Any opinions would be appreciated. thanks.
You have a difficult task. Shakespeare's writing is of course made up, that is fiction. So whatever it says, it says. However, Shakespeare based his play on historical events and historical people.
Here is the history which Shakespeare shaped his story.
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/women/wih4.htm
Bobpursley is right. Shakespeare based many/most plays on historical events, but then took plenty of license with them (such as having chimney-pots in Julius Caesar, quite an anachronism!). In addition, Macbeth and Hamlet are based on legends that were very old even in the 1500s, but we see allusions to Christianity in the plays after they left Shakespeare's hand.
So remember this -- even though he based many of his plays on historical events, he used the historical elements he wanted and added other elements so that his audiences at the time would remain interested and connected to the stories.
I have researched the historical events based on the book, but in the paper we would have to use evidence found in the book, and not the historical events. I can only think of one strong argument relating to this.. so currently I'm stuck.
Also, I have another question to ask. Our instructor gave us an outline to follow on how to write the intro paragraph. It was: 1) linkage to real life 2)Connection to the play 3)thesis 4)Purpose 5)Plan.
My question is that, does the "linkage to real life" have to relate to your opinion on the topic. Because our topic is whether we think Lady Macbeth has a possibility to be Duncan's daughter. I believe that there is a possibility, but lets say that I would switch my opinion due to not having enough evidence to prove it. If I said that no I don't think that she is, can the "linkage to real life", relate to that opinion? Or does the linkage, have to do with the possibility of her being duncan's daughter.
Sorry for the long questions, and if it wasn't clear enough.
Certainly! It sounds like you're exploring an interesting theory about Lady Macbeth possibly being Duncan's daughter. While there is no explicit evidence in the play to support this claim, analyzing the characters and their motivations can help you formulate arguments for your paper.
Here's one possible reason why some people might believe Lady Macbeth could be Duncan's daughter:
1. Ambition and Desperation: Lady Macbeth's intense desire for power and her willingness to do anything to achieve it could be interpreted as an indication that she has strong motives, possibly rooted in her father's lineage. Being the daughter of a king may have fueled her ambition, making her feel entitled to the throne, prompting her to manipulate Macbeth into committing regicide.
Remember, when exploring this theory, it's important to support your arguments with evidence from the text. Look for specific lines or scenes in the play that suggest Lady Macbeth's relationship to Duncan or that give insights into her character motivations.
It's worth noting that Shakespeare's play does not provide conclusive evidence connecting Lady Macbeth to Duncan in this way. However, the interpretation you mention can be seen as a creative analysis and an exploration of Lady Macbeth's character development.
As you continue researching and crafting your paper, make sure to consider alternative viewpoints and arguments that may challenge or support this theory. Happy writing!