Trace the relationship between Lady
Macbeth and Macbeth
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the beginning of the play have a close relationship, they talk to each other and both understand one another. In the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth kill Duncan in order to achieve their aim of making Macbeth King. However the strain of killing Duncan immediately affects their relationship. At first Lady Macbeth controls her husband although most of her power comes from his weaknesses. But after Duncan's murder their relationship deteriorates, they both become isolated and it results in Lady Macbeth's suicide.
From the moment Lady Macbeth receives the letter from Macbeth she begins to plan the murder. She talks about defeminising herself. She paints Macbeth as a weak man, and resolves it finally to persuade Macbeth to do it and asks for the strength to commit murder.
In Act 1 Scene 5 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are quite close. Macbeth addresses her in his letter as 'my dearest partner of greatness'. Lady Macbeth is keen to see Macbeth discuss the murder with him but she fears that Macbeth is 'too full o' th' milk of human kindness'. This proves how well she understands her husband. She respects him, calling him 'Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!' She takes under control in their relationship saying 'Leave all the rest to me'. She is practical, cunning and a loving wife. They seem to be working well as a team here. Also she says to him that 'Your face my Thane is a book were men may read strange matters'. She can see by his face what's wrong. 'your tongue; look like th' innocent flower'. What she is really saying is to look innocent, but to be nasty underneath. This shows her ambition and determination in the relationship that Macbeth shall become King. She very quickly entertains the idea that Duncan will be murdered as she says in Act 1 Scene 5. 'The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements'. Here in the relationship they both don't know what's happening, and both don't know where it is heading because Macbeth doesn't want to do the murder but Lady Macbeth does. Here she knows his weak points in the relationship suggesting that she knows him well enough to manipulate him. 'We will proceed no further in this business'. He says to her in which seems like a strong position. The relationship becomes even more intense - it's a passionate, obsessive, almost exciting love. 'What cannot you and I perform upon Th' unguarded Duncan'? Here it is in Macbeth's hands because he is now the one in control, and telling her what he wants to do. When she is accusing him of being a coward she refers to their love in 'From this time Such I account thy love', indicating there is still love between them even though what is happening.
Macbeth and Macbeth
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the beginning of the play have a close relationship, they talk to each other and both understand one another. In the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth kill Duncan in order to achieve their aim of making Macbeth King. However the strain of killing Duncan immediately affects their relationship. At first Lady Macbeth controls her husband although most of her power comes from his weaknesses. But after Duncan's murder their relationship deteriorates, they both become isolated and it results in Lady Macbeth's suicide.
From the moment Lady Macbeth receives the letter from Macbeth she begins to plan the murder. She talks about defeminising herself. She paints Macbeth as a weak man, and resolves it finally to persuade Macbeth to do it and asks for the strength to commit murder.
In Act 1 Scene 5 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are quite close. Macbeth addresses her in his letter as 'my dearest partner of greatness'. Lady Macbeth is keen to see Macbeth discuss the murder with him but she fears that Macbeth is 'too full o' th' milk of human kindness'. This proves how well she understands her husband. She respects him, calling him 'Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor!' She takes under control in their relationship saying 'Leave all the rest to me'. She is practical, cunning and a loving wife. They seem to be working well as a team here. Also she says to him that 'Your face my Thane is a book were men may read strange matters'. She can see by his face what's wrong. 'your tongue; look like th' innocent flower'. What she is really saying is to look innocent, but to be nasty underneath. This shows her ambition and determination in the relationship that Macbeth shall become King. She very quickly entertains the idea that Duncan will be murdered as she says in Act 1 Scene 5. 'The raven himself is hoarse that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan under my battlements'. Here in the relationship they both don't know what's happening, and both don't know where it is heading because Macbeth doesn't want to do the murder but Lady Macbeth does. Here she knows his weak points in the relationship suggesting that she knows him well enough to manipulate him. 'We will proceed no further in this business'. He says to her in which seems like a strong position. The relationship becomes even more intense - it's a passionate, obsessive, almost exciting love. 'What cannot you and I perform upon Th' unguarded Duncan'? Here it is in Macbeth's hands because he is now the one in control, and telling her what he wants to do. When she is accusing him of being a coward she refers to their love in 'From this time Such I account thy love', indicating there is still love between them even though what is happening.
