Analyzing MacBeth and Lady MacBeth’s relationship

The disintegration in Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s relationship often mirrors the state of Scotland. At the beginning of the play, the relationship is strong, trustworthy and stable. Scotland battled the Norwegians and come out victorious which in turn created order and stability. The gradual changes in the relationship are highlighted by key events, circling around power and this then amount to leaving the relationship, and Scotland, in ruins. As the downfall reaches it’s end one of Shakespeare’s greater themes become more obvious. By demonstrating the downfall of the relationship and enhancing this through the mirroring of Scotland’s fall Shakespeare shows the tragic fall of a hero.

As mentioned, Lady Macbeth and her husbands’ relationship begins as a trusting and intimate one. In the first act, the entrance of Lady Macbeth is shown as she reads a letter from her husband. It is in the letter that the trust in the relationship is evident, Macbeth refers to her first and calls her his “dearest partner”. United by love and trust Lady Macbeth and her husband are able to stand strong together. Scotland too is united with order after the victory. By setting the relationship up in such high conditions allows for the great downfall to take place. The idea of a tragic hero is opened through the relationship as it shows how loving and trusting Macbeth, as a husband, can be.

The relationship takes a turn when Lady Macbeth begins to dominate the relationship. Before this, they were equal and united, now Macbeth needs her to convince him and make his mind up. Lady Macbeth degrades her husband by attack his weakness and saying he is no longer a man. This attack shows that the relationship is faulting early. The control of Lady Macbeth over Macbeth mirrors Scotland as during this time Scotland as order still prevails over chaos. Scotland remains united through victory whereas Lady Macbeth and her husband are united through the ambition of murder.

It is through the murder Lady Macbeth becomes very dominating although losing her control at times. Scotland becomes corrupted through Macbeth’s actions and chaos will soon over take the land. Lady Macbeth attempts to hold together her relationship by calming Macbeth thoughts and asking him to ‘consider it not so deeply’. Macbeth is not calmed and once again can be held responsible for bringing chaos. Lady Macbeth is firm in her ‘purpose’ and tries yet again to bring order and control. Lady Macbeth remains practical where as Macbeth is hesitant remorseful and ashamed. The relationship (and Scotland’s people) is no longer united. The loss of the king created turmoil in both aspects.

The turmoil from the murder of the king brings about distance in the relationship and Scotland is left in chaos. The second murder is that of Macbeth’s best friend. The trust disappears from the relationship as Macbeth feels he no longer needs his wife. At this point in the relationship Lady Macbeth still tries in vain to bring back order, by creating excuses for her husband claiming his crazed actions are “momentary”. In the conclusion of this scene it is evident that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have very little hope of order again, in their ruling and their relationship. The customs of waiting for the royality to leave the room before the thanes, is dismissed imply the extensive chaos that they have created. It is implied that rank means little in Scotland showing that how disordered the nation has become.

The play contains no more scenes of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth talking, the strongly indicates the decay of the relationship. Macbeth has become extremely and foolishly independent fighting still for his undisputed kingship, where as Lady Macbeth is struggling to remain sane. It is at this point where the relationship and the state of Scotland become separate. Scotland is strengthened through the help of almighty England and begins to regain it order. The thanes of Scotland turn begin to plot against Macbeth and this hatred unifies the country once more.

The death of Lady Macbeth signifies the final chapter of the relationship. As Lady Macbeth’s “brief candle” is no longer around Macbeth is left to defend himself in his final hours. Scotland unites in an effort to dispose of the ‘tyrant’. The plays beginnings of a perfect relationship allowed the Shakespeare to show the complete and tragic downfall of a hero. This theme of a hero’s fall from grace is contrasted to the theme of the power of a nation when united.