How the Relationship Between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Changes and Develops During the Course of the Play

How the Relationship Between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Changes and Develops During the Course of the Play

The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth alters throughout

the play. At the beginning of the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were

very close and loving. Lady Macbeth showed that she was supportive to

Macbeth and encouraged him to kill Duncan in order to clear all

obstacles that would get in the way of Macbeth becoming King!

Macbeth is introduced as a brave soldier who is devoted to his King,

while Lady Macbeth is introduced as a kind and loving wife, who

underneath is actually a scheming and deceitful woman!

At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth receives a letter from her

husband about the witches' prophecies. At this point in the play it is

obvious that Macbeth and his wife are very close because in the letter

Macbeth refers to her as "My dearest partner of greatness."

While reading the letter, Lady Macbeth says,

"Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human

kindness to catch the nearest way."

Lady Macbeth wanted to take the quick and dirty route to royalty by

killing King Duncan, but she didn't think Macbeth could do it.

Macbeth is not naturally inclined to perform malicious deeds,

especially killing a good King and friend in order to gain power or

wealth, but he is very ambitious and mentally weak.

Lady Macbeth's strong power was used to effortlessly persuade Macbeth

to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth was far more determined than her husband

to gain power and royalty and because of this, she was able to

encourage him to commit the murder. She taunted him, and made fun of

everything that h...

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...beth can see Duncan's blood on her hands and tries to wash it

off, but nothing will make it go away.

Macbeth's moods are constantly fluctuating from one to another, and he

doesn't see Lady Macbeth's suffering.

Lady Macbeth eventually kills herself because she cannot cope with the

guilt of killing King Duncan. When Macbeth is informed that his wife

is dead, he feels that life has become meaningless. After all that

they had been through, what had they actually achieved? His power and

motivation seems to vanish. Everything that had seemed so important to

him before - ambition, desires, fears - is reduced to nothing.

When Macbeth's castle is beseiged, he realises that this is the end.

However, he refuses to surrender, even though he knows he will lose,

and is killed by Macduff.

"Life is but a walking shadow..."