(I, v, 16 & 21). It is strength if we analyse Lady Macbeth’s side. She has a very strong nature and knows Macbeth’s weak points, therefore manipulating and controlling the relationship. She uses of a great argument in Act I, vii accusing Macbeth for not having the courage to do what he wants “Wouldst thou have that which steem’ st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own steem, letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would”, like the poor cat i’ th’ adage?” (I, vii, 43-46). Her feelings are so strong that Macbeth gives in completely. She is very ambitious, not only for herself but also for Macbeth “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised.” (I, v, 15-16). She has such a determination to get for Macbeth what he wants “Only look up clear. To alter favor ever is to fear. Leave all the rest to me.” (I, v, 71-73). Lady Macbeth uses her own strength to supply the courage Macbeth does not have “ Make thick my blood; stop th’ access and passage to remorse, that no compunctious visiting of nature shake my fell purpose, nor keep peace between th’ effect and it!” (I, v, 43-47).
In Act II, Macbeth is very weak for he is guilty and regretful after Duncan’s murder “I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’ t again I dare not.” (II, ii, 54-56). He has a troubled mind. He imagines hearing voices “Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep,” the innocent sleep…” (II, ii, 39-40). We analyse the depth of his conscience when he says; “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean form my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine making the green one red.” (II, ii, 65-67). While Lady Macbeth is calm and self-confident whenever he panics or imagines things “These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so, it will, make us mad.” (II, ii 37-37), “Infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers!” (II, ii, 56-57). She is also very casual “ A little water clears us of this deed.” (II, ii, 71) and direct, the mother type, “Why did you bring these daggers from the place? They must lie there. Go, carry them and smear the sleepy grooms with blood.” (II, ii, 52-54).
Act III is the big turning point of the play. It is as if Lady Macbeth’s strength of character has been taken over by him and his weakness by her. When Macbeth becomes King the evil side of his nature takes over completely. He becomes a butcher and tyrant without any feeling of remorse. Before, he had to be persuaded by his wife to kill. Now, once a King, he doesn’t even bother to tell her of his plans, like the murder of Banquo. He doesn’t need his wife’s support anymore; he has the power and therefore now controls the relationship. The relationship cools down. Lady Macbeth doesn’t have the same effect over Macbeth as before. She is left over. In Act V we see clearly what happened to Lady Macbeth. She is now the person who broods about the dreadful things they have done, “A great perturbation in nature, to receive at once the benefit of sleep and do the effects of watching!” (Doctor, V, i, 8-10). She is frightened of the dark; “She has light by her continually.” (Gentlewoman, V, i, 21-22). She walks in her sleep and washes her hands all the time to get rid of the blood, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”
(Lady Macbeth, V, i, 33). While Macbeth’s spirit is broken. He thinks about how meaningless his life is. “Out, out, brief candle! Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
(V, v, 23-28). He is also very strong and brave “I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hacked. Give me my armor.” (V, iv, 32-33). We can see that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship has changed a lot since the beginning of the play and it is basically destroyed. When she dies he doesn’t show any sort of feelings. He is heart has cooled down. “She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word.” (V, v, 17-18). Macbeth fights and dies bravely, for it was his nemesis have his head shopped off by a man not born of woman “Behold where stands th’ usurper’s cursed head. The time is free”(Macduff, V, viii, 54-55).
Their characteristics showed how they completed each other, so the relationship was stable. For Macbeth was weak and needed a woman with great determination and strength, such as Lady Macbeth, to support him and make him goes forward on his plans. We also can see how the relationship fell apart according to the sequence of events, which lead them to “switch positions”, he became strong and she became weak, and how they died for the bad they’ve done.
“What’s more to do which would be planted newly with the time, as calling home our exiled friends abroad that fled the snares of watchful tyranny, producing forth the cruel ministers of this dead butcher and his fiendlike queen—who, as ‘tis thought, by self and violent hands took off her life—this, and what needful else that calls upon us, by the grace of Grace we will perform in measure, time and place.” (Malcolm, 65-74)
