How does the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change throughout the play?

            In my opinion, the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth undergoes a tremendous change throughout the play. In the beginning, husband and wife are very intimate and close to each other. Later on, however, the two characters become distant, keeping secrets to themselves. At the end of Act 1, after the atrocity of what they have committed, the relationship is completely destroyed, giving way only to coldness, loneliness and insanity.

            At the beginning of the play, we get the first impression that Macbeth and his wife are very affectionate and devoted towards each other. Between them there seems to be a perfect relationship, without any antagonism. They do not hide anything from each other and both of them are ambitious. We can clearly understand this from the letter that Macbeth writes to his wife in Act I, Scene 5. The ‘hero’ tells his wife all that has happened to him. He tells her about the title he has received, about the witches’ prediction and also all of his thoughts about what the future holds. This letter is very important. It shows us that there is a deep bond between the two Macbeths.

Lady Macbeth is a good partner; Macbeth describes her as his ‘dearest partner of greatness’. Indeed, she understands her husband very well. She knows that Macbeth is very ambitious, however, she also knows that Macbeth’s nature ‘is too full of milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way’ (Act 1, Scene 5). These words give us an image of Macbeth totally different from the one we had before. The brave and strong warrior reveals an inner nature, that we did not suspect. Lady Macbeth knows that her husband doesn’t have the necessary malice to commit murder, and that he only wants to win his honours honestly. She realises that she will have to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan, by crushing his doubts and uncertainties.

            She is a very strong woman, animated by an obstinate and evil determination. At this point in the play, she appears to me to be almost stronger than her husband. Terrible are her words, completely free from any sense of morality. She would do anything if only she could fulfil her ambitions;

“Unsex me here… stop up the access and passage to remorse…Come to my woman breasts and take my milk for gall…” (Act 1, Scene 5)

            She has decided that Macbeth has to murder Duncan and she calls upon the evil spirits to help her to become insensitive to remorse, to all the feelings of conscience which can reach her heart and make her hesitate or stop her from carrying out her resolutions..

When Macbeth arrives, he is greeted warmly by his wife. She calls him the king-to-be. She explains that he has to seize the opportunity that he has been given to become king. Lady Macbeth takes complete control of the situation. She assures her husband and tells him to hide his real thoughts because people can easily see what he is thinking. However, Macbeth doesn’t seem to be too convinced. “We will speak further”, (Act 1, Scene 5) he says. Lady Macbeth answers him…

“Only look up clear; to alter favour ever is to fear. Leave the rest to me.” (Act 1, Scene 5)

            She has already planned everything. She lives already “the future in the instant” and boils with impatience for the murder.

Macbeth continues to think about the murder of Duncan. He is tormented by doubts. At first it had only been ‘fantastical’. He knows perfectly well that it is wrong to kill Duncan and that somehow he will end up paying for it. He hesitates not only because of the consequences of the murder, but above all, because the horror that the homicide will provoke in him. Macbeth is more afraid of the earthly judgement than the divine one.

“…But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we’d jump the life to come. But in these cases, we still have judgement here…” (Act1, Scene7)

Furthermore, to convince himself not to do it, he lists the reasons why he shouldn’t kill the King…

“First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against this deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself”. (Act 1, Scene 7)

            He also thinks about Duncan’s character: his goodness and kindness. He realises that the King’s murder would provoke a tremendous uproar, both on Earth and in heaven. He understands that his only real motivation is ambition. Unlike his wife, he is afraid that it may be greater than himself. For Macbeth, his ambition is like a horse that jumps too high and falls on the other side of the fence…

“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’er-leaps itself and falls on the other”. (Act 1, Scene 7)

            Consequently, when Lady Macbeth comes in, he tells her that he doesn’t want to proceed any further with the murder and explains that he wants to ‘wear’ his new honours, a reason which was not part of the real motives for not doing the horrible deed. He continues by saying that if he proceeds with the murder of King Duncan, he will lose the high reputation he has earned himself. However, he is not prepared for his wife’s rage and abuse.

            She insults him harshly, calling him a coward and saying that he is not a man. She challenges his manlihood and says that she would stop at nothing in order to get what she wants and she would never break a promise…

“How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums, and dash’d his brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this”. (Act 1, Scene 7)

            These words show us how determined she is. It seems as though she has actually joined forces with evil. Despite her insults, Macbeth is still doubtful and afraid of failure, however, when his wife explains to him how easy it would be to kill Duncan, he finally decides to do it.

            In this scene of the planning of the murder, we can already see a slight change in the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth compared to the one we originally saw in Act 1, Scene 5. Even though they are still intimate, and still tell each other what they think and believe, there is a bit of reticence, especially on Macbeth’s side. He isn’t completely honest with his wife, since admittedly, he does tell her that he doesn’t want to kill King Duncan, but he doesn’t give her the real reasons, those that he has expressed to himself in his previous soliloquy. In my opinion, this behaviour shows that he is weak, or at least weaker than Lady Macbeth. He listens more to his conscience. Furthermore, I think that he is very concerned about what his wife thinks of him, he doesn’t want to appear to be a coward in her eyes.

            In fact, in response to her insults, Macbeth merely defends himself, especially when his courage is questioned. He doesn’t, however, contradict her in any sort of way and it seems to me that he finally agrees with his wife because he wants to show her that he is a ‘true’ man. He is worried that they might fail in completing the task, but Lady Macbeth assures him and explains the details of her plan.

“Bring forth men-children only for thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males”. (Act 1, Scene 7)

Here he expresses his admiration for her determination.

            So they decide to commit the murder, or rather, Lady Macbeth decides that Macbeth is going to commit it, because, even if she is very good with words, it is clear that the action awaits her husband. She seemingly feels no guilt, and yet she cannot commit the murder of Duncan herself, something which appears to be strange to me, or at least, makes me suspect that she also has her weaknesses. However, on the whole, we see that the two characters complete each other. When Macbeth hesitates, Lady Macbeth intervenes and reassures him. She always recalls the spiritual thoughts of her husband to material things.

            If we continue to consider the character of Lady Macbeth, we can certainly say that she is more persuasive than her husband, she prevails upon him with her powerful words, she knows how to manipulate people. Initially, she has no visions, no suffering of her soul, she is less sensitive than her husband, or at least, she is very able to conceal her remorse initially. Only when she is sleeping, as we will see further on, does all of the turmoil hidden inside of her at the beginning of the play, come out. However, at the moment of action, she is a poor sight. She has to get herself drunk in order to reassure herself. She reacts to every sound, showing her nervousness. In my opinion, these facts show a small sign of Lady Macbeth’s conscience, as well as when she talks about how Duncan reminded her of her father when he was sleeping.

“Alack! I am afraid they have awak’d, and ‘tis not done; the attempt and not the deed confounds us. Hark! I laid their daggers ready; he could not miss ‘em. Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

            When her husband returns, after having committed the murder, she receives him with pride and relief. She is proud of him because he has finally proved himself to be a true man. On the other hand, though, Macbeth is horrified by what he has just done. Lady Macbeth tries to reassure him, but he doesn’t listen to her. It seems as if he is enveloped in his own world. She asks many questions, but he continues to talk to himself.

            Again, Lady Macbeth takes control of the situation…

“Go, get some water, and wash this filthy witness from your hand… Give me the daggers… Get your night-gown, lest occasion call us, and show us to be watchers. Be not lost so poorly in your thoughts” (Act 2, Scene 2)

She orders him to go and wash the blood off from his hands, and she takes the daggers back to scene of the crime. She also takes her husband away to put on his night gown.

In my opinion, she is more worried about the external problems, such as being discovered, rather than the internal ones, such as guilt and remorse. For her such matters are only “pictures” and it is “brainsickly to worry about them”. She is not as sensitive as her husband, but certainly she loves him very much, she is always ready to help him and encourage him. She is also a very able actress, as seen for instance when she faints in Act 2, Scene 3 to save her husband from the suspicions of the other nobles.

            The murder of Duncan marks an important change in the relationship between the two protagonists. They have achieved what they wanted. They should be happy, instead they are not…

“Nought’s had, all’s spent, where our desire is got without content: ’tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful joy”. (Act 3, Scene 2)

            Macbeth and his wife are both worried, however, she tries to cheer her husband up. He has to forget about the murder. For a moment they still speak to each other truthfully and with affection and understanding. Macbeth explains that he is tormented by nightmares. Lady Macbeth tells him that “things without all remedy should be without regard; what’s done is done” (Act 3, Scene 2). There are no uncertainties, no pity in her words. He calls her “love” and “dearest chuck”, but he no longer confides in her.

            In Act 3, Scene 2, he doesn’t tell his wife about his plan to kill Banquo, his best-friend. It seems that either he doesn’t need his wife’s help any longer or that he loves her so much that he wants her to stay innocent of Banquo’s murder. Anyhow, the chain reaction to destruction has already begun; destruction of their love and of their lives.

            In these last scenes, we see that the private relationship has changed. Unlike before, Macbeth takes control of the situation. He has all the characteristics of his new role: hardship and suspicion. It is Macbeth, now, who calls up the night, the place and time for evil, to help him to destroy all of his moral bonds.

“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed. Come, seeling night, scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day, and with thy bloody and invisible hand cancel and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale! Light thickens, and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood…” (Act 3, Scene 2)

            Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, seems to be subdued and appeased. She remains silent.

However, in public, the relationship is quite different. It is still Lady Macbeth who covers up for her husband. She is the one who calls him back to reality at the moment of the apparition of Banquo’s ghost. But we notice that her words aren’t as powerful as they were in Act 1, Scene 7.

“…O these flaws and starts – impostors to true fear – would well become a woman’s story at a winter’s fire, authoriz’d by her grandam. Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done you look but on a stool.”

(Act 3, Scene 4)

This is the last time that we see Lady Macbeth in control of events.

            With the murder of Banquo and the escape of his son Fleance, all of Macbeth’s hope to become King is destroyed. The prediction has come true: Banquo’s descendants could become kings despite all that Macbeth has done. At the end of Act 3 Scene 4, Lady Macbeth maybe begins to understands how badly her husband has declined. “You lack the season of all nature, sleep” (Act 3, Scene 4) she murmurs, but this time with a great sense of pity.

             Clearly, the two characters have both undergone a great change. In Act 5, Scene 1, in the sleepwalking scene, we can clearly see how Lady Macbeth has changed. We are shown how she has declined. Previously, she was able to cover up her remorse and was able to lie to herself. Her soul had never been tormented. However, now, in her sleep, she reveals the same feelings of guilt which have always tormented Macbeth.

“Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One; two: why, then ‘tis time to do’t. Hell is murky! Fie, my lord – fie! A soldier, and afread? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account? Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him?” (Act 5, Scene 1)

She continually re-lives the night of the murder. Not only is she spiritually weak now, but also physically.

            She has changed a lot since the beginning of the play. Before she never had any bad dreams, now she is afraid of darkness. Before she said that “a little water cleans us of this dead”, but now she can’t wash out “the spot of blood”. She appears now as a broken human being, broken by her own conscience.

“The Thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean? No more o’ that, my lord, no more o’ that: you mar all with this starting” (Act 5, Scene 1)

Her decline is reflected by her disjointed discourse. Destiny throws her away now because she has already finished the job she was called to do. She is not as strong as we believed. She is a weak woman not able to withstand any internal sufferance. Her last appearance shows her as a victim, a poor creature, able only to stir up pity and compassion, and who has nothing to do with the devilish woman who we met at the outset of the play.

            On the contrary, we see that Macbeth has become a decisive man. Unlike his wife, who is incapable of fighting and at the end commits suicide, he meets his destiny with dignity.

“I’ll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack’d…” (Act 5, Scene 3)

He has lost the sense of fear and has almost lost his conscience and the feeling of pain. At the news of his wife’s death, in fact, he speaks words which are not the ones that we would expect from a loving husband…

“She should have died hereafter; there would have been a time for such a word”. (Act 5, Scene 5, Macbeth)

Before, they were bound together by a great love, but now this love has completely disappeared.

I think that ‘Macbeth’ is also a tragedy of love. The relationship between the two main characters was true love. Though, also love can lead, and here it certainly does, to moral corruption and to the destruction.

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