Compare the presentation of Macbeth to Lady Macbeth

Macbeth is first presented as a rather violent person who is very dauntless. In Act 1 Scene 2 the Captain describes the way he kills Macdonald: “Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops”. The word “unseamed” means to open up stitches. Shakespeare compares Macbeth’s actions to sewing to create a very graphic image for the audience. In Shakespearian times the audience – which mostly consisted of loud, drunk men – would have enjoyed the specifically violent parts. We learn from this quote that Macbeth is ferocious when he needs to be. However, Lady Macbeth begs to differ; she states in Act 1 Scene 5 that Macbeth is “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness”. One would think that kindness is a good value in a person but the words “too full” suggests that Macbeth should not have these qualities and it emphasizes that Macbeth is not the character portrayed in Act 1 Scene 2 who seems fearless is rather a coward. This suggests a lot that Lady Macbeth sees Macbeth’s loyalty to Duncan as an act of weakness.Moreover, Macbeth is conveyed as a brave warrior. In Act 1 Scene 2 the Captain quotes: “Distaining Fortune”. The word “distaining” shows us that Macbeth is regardless of his life and is only concerned about fighting for his king. Even though Macbeth knows that “Fortune” – in other words luck – is on the opposing side he still run into battle with lots of courage. Macbeth is a man who keeps by the Code of Chivalry; the Knight’s Code of Chivalry was a moral system of conduct for knights during the medieval times. By fighting honourably with valour for his King, Macbeth is presented as a very admirable and just person. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth is showed as the exact opposite. In Act 1 Scene 5 Lady Macbeth asks the spirits too “fill me from the crown to the toe, top full/ Of direst cruelty.” Shakespeare uses the superlative “direst” emphasizing that Lady Macbeth wants the worst cruelty and does not want anything that will make her compassionate. This goes against everything noble because she is being anything but faithful to the king.