The Relationship of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

The Relationship of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

At the start of the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are seen as a united

couple. They appear to have no secrets from one another, and seem to

the audience as though they are equal: "My dearest partner of

greatness" - this is what Macbeth calls his wife - partner signifying

equality and greatness suggesting standing. During the course of the

play, their relationship faces serious obstacles and strains are put

on their loyalties to one another. At times, Lady Macbeth is the

driving force in their relationship as she seeks to advance her

husband; at other times Macbeth appears to be running the show. They

become more separate in their lives with one another, they keep

secrets and pursue a path, which ends in tragic consequences.

Macbeth is portrayed as a great warrior, a hero: "brave Macbeth - well

he deserves that name." - the sergeant praises Macbeth's savagery.

Following his acquaintance with the witches, Macbeth immediately

writes to his wife to tell her what they had said: "Thou shalt be king

hereafter". Upon hearing this news, Lady Macbeth starts to contemplate

murder. With the King, Duncan, out of the way, the path would be clear

for her husband. Macbeth has already had similar thoughts: "My

thought, whose murder yet is fantastical" he reveals in Act I, Scene 3

however, so far in the play, neither has had the chance to discuss

these thoughts with the other.

Although Macbeth is excited at the thought of being King, he realises

that to commit murder could lead to unknown consequences and he is

disturbed: "My thought…Shakes so my single state of man that function

is smother'd in ...

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... is keeping

dreadful secrets from her. He has terrible dreams and feels that he

can trust no one. They both feel threatened especially when Fleance

survives the attempt on his life, as they know that Banquo's

descendants will become kings in spite of all Macbeth's efforts.

In Act 5 we see the final corruption of the lives of Macbeth and his

wife. Lady Macbeth becomes obsessed with her guilt and takes to sleep

walking, eternally seeking to wash the blood from her hands -

something which she had thought so easy to do in Act 2. By contrast,

her husband is again a man of action and returns to the battlefield.

Lady Macbeth dies a pitiful and guilt-ridden death whilst her husband,

although a sad man who considers life pointless: "full of sound and

fury, Signifying nothing." dies with some dignity as a fearless

warrior.