An Evolving Marriage
“The relationship between husband and wife should be one of closest friends.” (B.R Ambedkar) Macbeth is a tragic Shakespearean play about one man’s murderous spree to obtain the throne of Scotland, after receiving a prophecy from three witches, that he would become King. However, the murders that Macbeth commits cause his own people to turn against him and he loses his throne soon after. This play features an ever changing relationship between the protagonist, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth. As their marriage changes, each character also experiences multiple changes. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the changes in the marriage of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth affect their own characters as they start with a …show more content…
To begin with, when planning the murder of Banquo, Macbeth makes a plan with the murderers, while Lady Macbeth is not around. This is quite the opposite of King Duncan’s murder plan, as the King’s death seems like a partnership between the Macbeths. By initiating this murder, without his wife around, Macbeth shows that he is becoming corrupted by his power and to a certain extent, quite paranoid that he will be overthrown. Later on, when Macbeth shares the fact he is planning something for later that night, Lady Macbeth inquires for more information. In response, Macbeth replies, “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck.” (3.2.52) As Michael Stratford explains, his change from referring to his wife from “dearest love” to “dearest chuck” indicates loss of emotional bonding and equality. This shows that Macbeth has become engrossed with his power and it is all that he can think about. Finally, it is also quite clear how the relationship changes are affecting Lady Macbeth. Throughout the middle acts of the play, there is less communication between the Macbeths, and through this, Macbeth is not able to see that his wife is unhappy. Just before the night of the King’s Feast and ceremony, Lady Macbeth says, “Nought’s had, all’s spent, /Where our desire is got without content.” (3.2.6-7) Lady Macbeth says this while Macbeth is out planning the murder of Banquo. This is a drastic role reversal in their relationship from Act I, because earlier in the play, Lady Macbeth plans the murder of King Duncan, while Macbeth is alone pondering his thoughts. This change shows that Lady Macbeth is not as merciless as she seems earlier in the play and it reveals the guilt that she is facing. The separation that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are experiencing through the middle of the
“The relationship between husband and wife should be one of closest friends.” (B.R Ambedkar) Macbeth is a tragic Shakespearean play about one man’s murderous spree to obtain the throne of Scotland, after receiving a prophecy from three witches, that he would become King. However, the murders that Macbeth commits cause his own people to turn against him and he loses his throne soon after. This play features an ever changing relationship between the protagonist, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth. As their marriage changes, each character also experiences multiple changes. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the changes in the marriage of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth affect their own characters as they start with a …show more content…
To begin with, when planning the murder of Banquo, Macbeth makes a plan with the murderers, while Lady Macbeth is not around. This is quite the opposite of King Duncan’s murder plan, as the King’s death seems like a partnership between the Macbeths. By initiating this murder, without his wife around, Macbeth shows that he is becoming corrupted by his power and to a certain extent, quite paranoid that he will be overthrown. Later on, when Macbeth shares the fact he is planning something for later that night, Lady Macbeth inquires for more information. In response, Macbeth replies, “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck.” (3.2.52) As Michael Stratford explains, his change from referring to his wife from “dearest love” to “dearest chuck” indicates loss of emotional bonding and equality. This shows that Macbeth has become engrossed with his power and it is all that he can think about. Finally, it is also quite clear how the relationship changes are affecting Lady Macbeth. Throughout the middle acts of the play, there is less communication between the Macbeths, and through this, Macbeth is not able to see that his wife is unhappy. Just before the night of the King’s Feast and ceremony, Lady Macbeth says, “Nought’s had, all’s spent, /Where our desire is got without content.” (3.2.6-7) Lady Macbeth says this while Macbeth is out planning the murder of Banquo. This is a drastic role reversal in their relationship from Act I, because earlier in the play, Lady Macbeth plans the murder of King Duncan, while Macbeth is alone pondering his thoughts. This change shows that Lady Macbeth is not as merciless as she seems earlier in the play and it reveals the guilt that she is facing. The separation that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are experiencing through the middle of the