How does the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change throughout the play?

Authors Avatar

                

                Macbeth Essay

How does the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change throughout the play?

Macbeth was one of Shakespeare’s last plays that he wrote in Elizabethan times in 1606. It was written for the new king, James I (James VI of Scotland), following the death of Queen Elizabeth. James was interested in witchcraft and Scotland, and hence the themes in the play. One of the aspects that made James more interested in the play was that he believed (as did many others) that Banquo was James's ancestor.

Shakespeare found the story of Macbeth in The History of Scotland, by Raphael Holinshed. Shakespeare made changes to the facts that Raphael had written down, making his version much more dramatic. This is because in the original version Banquo (James’ ancestor) helped Macbeth in the murder of King Duncan, yet in Shakespeare’s version Banquo is innocent. The reason for this is that if Banquo was seen as killing the King then because James being a descendant of Banquo he would have been seen as a murder or have the potential to, therefore it would be an insult the play was, therefore, changed to please the king.

The play, Macbeth was set in Medieval Scotland, and as the title suggests it focuses on the actions and events which Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth take part in. Throughout the play different situations such as ambition, chaos and good versus evil, change the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and eventually weakens it. As theses themes unfold the deceit that is growing with the plays on their consciences.

Macbeth first encounters the three witches on his way back from a battle he fought alongside King Duncan. The witches foretold of Macbeth’s future and how he would be Thane of Cawdor. In a letter to Lady Macbeth, he told his wife of this meeting. At this early point in the play it is evident that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have a strong relationship, this is because of the fact that he wrote the letter to her which shows that he can confide his news in her. Macbeth also treats his wife as an equal because of the fact that he shares this information with her and he trusts her not tell anyone when he says “lay it to thy heart”. Macbeth obviously values her opinion. Macbeth wants Lady Macbeth to think about the prophecy of the witches and give him her opinion on the matter.

In his letter, Macbeth proves that he and his wife have a loving relationship because he refers to her as my dearest partner of greatness”. He calls her his dearest giving out the message that he loves her greatly and that she is a very special person to him. By calling her his partner that he considers her to be an equal rather than the status that most women were seen as medieval times of being a lower status then men. Ironically Lady Macbeth is his partner in marriage and will soon be his partner in a crime (murder). Macbeth also calls his wife “my dearest love” again confirming that they have a very loving relationship.

After Lady Macbeth reads the letter, she decides that she wants her husband to become king by whatever means possible. She recognizes how ambitious her husband is, she knows that he wants to become king and also Lady Macbeth wants to have some power and glory for herself.

Lady Macbeth is clearly the driving force behind the relationship.

“Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what thou art promis’d”

Not only is Macbeth ambitious but so is his wife proving that she knows him well as she wants him to be king just as much as Macbeth wants it.

“Yet I do fear thy nature is too full o’ the milk of human goodness”

It is evident that Lady Macbeth really does know the true nature of her husband and how kind a noble he is. Macbeth, however, will take any opportunity to become king that comes his way, but he wishes to do this by winning it in an honest way.

Lady Macbeth puts the idea of murdering the king into his head by predicating that Duncan “will never see another day rise”. This means that he will die before morning.

This proves that she is the driving force behind the relationship, providing him with an idea of who is to become king and get what he was promised according to the prophecy of the witches. Lady Macbeth says to her husband “leave all the rest up to me”. Macbeth is happy to take the backseat for once and let Lady Macbeth take charge because Macbeth trusts his wife and treats her equally in the relationship.

In Macbeth’s famous soliloquy he debates whether or not he should murder King Duncan. Macbeth considers both options of killing the king or letting him live.

 “This Duncan hath borne his faculties sin meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels; trumpet-tongu’d, against the deep damnation of his taking-off. And pity, like a naked new-born babe, striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin, hors’d upon the slightest couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every eye that tears shall drown the wind”.

Macbeth is wrestling with his conscience in his soliloquy, he is telling himself that because Duncan is kind and a good king that if Macbeth was to kill him then there would be a an unbalance in nature which would cause chaos and a political outburst. Within Macbeth’s soliloquy the differences between heaven and hell are shown, since Duncan is the rightful King and heaven would be outraged at his murder.

Join now!

Macbeth only has one reason for Murdering King Duncan.

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition……” 

However, this reason is over weighed with all the aspects of the murder which are wrong, therefore, he makes up his mind that he should not kill the king. Macbeth immediately tells his wife of his decision.

“We will proceed no further in this business”

Macbeth is standing for what he believes is right, even if it does go against what he originally said.

Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to kill Duncan so much that she ...

This is a preview of the whole essay