Macbeth and Lady Macbeths relationship changes
'At the beginning of the play, Macbeth writes to his wife as "my dearest partner of greatness". How does this relationship change during the course of the tragedy?'Exploring the human subconscious, Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' is a dark and sinister insight into one man's "vaulting ambition". Shakespeare explores the human condition and psyche by integrating themes such as ambition, desire and guilt. These main themes are closely aligned and are used to consider jealousy, love, identity, evil and the notion that appearances can be deceptive. The fall of the eponymous hero is interlinked with the demise of a once powerful and intense relationship. Macbeth and his "dearest partner of greatness" lose the equality that is the basis of their love, resulting in an inversion of their roles. The disorder of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship mirrors the chaos brought to Scotland by "this dead butcher and his fiend-like queen". Opening upon a wild and desolate moor, Shakespeare promptly establishes a sense of darkness and foreboding. The Weird Sisters are ambiguous, speaking in paradox to emphasise the untrustworthy premonitions of which they speak. It is from these contradictory statements that Macbeth is introduced. Th
Lady Macbeth believes she can enable Macbeth to reach his potential, to do this she will chastise everything in him that prevents him from being evil enough to commit regicide and become king. Even though Lady Macbeth is a dominant, matriarchal character, after Duncan's murder she is increasingly isolated from Macbeth's life. It is then Macbeth becomes hysterical with guilt and dread, the sudden comprehension of what he has done places guilt heavily on his conscience. It is clear that Macbeth regrets what he has done, but in a stark comparison, Lady Macbeth holds no guilt in her mind, for of course "a little water clears us of this deed". Macbeth plans to murder Banquo and his son Fleance, this will prevent the Weird Sister's prophecies from coming true. Hiding behind a false face, Lady Macbeth presents herself as the 'lady', keeping hidden her driving ambition. This treachery results in the title being given to Macbeth, who feels he should not be dressed in "borrowed robes". At the beginning of the play, Macbeth writes to his wife as "my dearest partner of greatness", which changes throughout the play to finally end in a brutal manner. Macbeth in the beginning was a valiant and deserving man, as his ambition grew, his character changed. "This castle hath a pleasant seat", Duncan provides dramatic irony as he enters the home of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth gains confidence, the third apparition persuades him that he "shall never be vanquish'd be until Great Birnham Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him". This is the first time in which her counsel has not been taken, it is a prominent part of their relationship as it signifies the trust on which their relationship was based being broken. The concoction of Lady Macbeth's taunts and the Weird Sister's prophecies however, creates a driving force of ambition, which induces a loss of moralistic value in Macbeth's subconscious. Lady Macbeth tries to maintain calm and attempts to comfort her husband with "come on; gentle my lord, sleek o'er your rugged looks; be bright and jovial among your guests tonight". In Macbeth's last soliloquy before he commits regicide, his conscience assails him, tricking his mind.
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