Comparing the Woman in A Woman to her Lover, and Lady Macbeth

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Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s relationship is somewhat the reverse to the stereotypical relationship. Lady Macbeth is the dictator and Macbeth follows all her orders. Perhaps this is out of love for her or to keep her love or respect for him. Their so-called ‘love’ for each other is not that of a typical relationship. Lady Macbeth spoon-feeds her husband, telling hm what to do all the time, but this switches suddenly after the murder of Duncan.

The woman in ‘A Woman to her Lover’ and Lady Macbeth are alike in many ways. The woman in the poem appears to be a well-structured, logical lady who sets her mind on one thing, a lot like Lady Macbeth when she set her mind on killing Duncan. The woman in the poem lays out her ‘terms and conditions’ for the relationship she expects, a bit like an argument, saying what she doesn’t want and what she wants showing she’s a logical, independent woman. Lady Macbeth would agree with all the things the woman in the poem does not want such as, ‘bear your children, wearing out my life in drudgery and silence...’ (4+5). The lady appears very demanding saying that she is ‘no doll to dress’ implying that she’s not an object to be played with. (11) Lady Macbeth is similarly demanding, ordering Macbeth to ‘look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t’ and telling her husband that he ‘must’ do this and ‘you shall’ do that (1.6.63-64+65). In ‘Valentine’ by Carol Ann Duffy, the structure of the poem is random with no logical rhyme or rhythm to it. It changes quickly from love to hatred; similar to how Macbeth’s mind keeps changing direction about whether he should or shouldn’t kill Duncan. Macbeth tries to stick to his normal life, stay realistic and look for the simplest option, which is not to ...

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... love for him encouraging him that he will be ‘so much more the man’ (1.7.51) if he obeys her. Walsh’s and Lady Macbeth’s use of imperative words and phrases shows off their dominance and strength. They are also both willing to sacrifice valuable aspects of their life (love) for their selfish reasons.

Like Walsh’s ‘A Woman to Her Lover’, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both have completely different views on a passionate relationship. As a result of murder, the couple’s relationship got destroyed and caused a power shift, which is parallel to Porphyria’s death. Lady Macbeth lets her determination intersect with her relationship with Macbeth to the point where they lose everything and feel like complete strangers to each other.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Boston: D.C. Heath and Company, 1915. Google Books. Web. 3 Sept. 2015.

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