Starting with this extract, explore how Shakespeare presents Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s
relationship.
Shakespeare presents Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as characters in a complex, problematic
relationship, in which there is a constant power imbalance. The audience is exposed to the
struggle for control within their marriage, and how this results in the demise of them both.
Shakespeare manipulates the two-fold structure of the play to mirror the deterioration of their
relationship due to the lack of shared morality and extreme severity of their lust for power.
Shakespeare immediately depicts a power imbalance within their marriage through his use of
contrasting epithets in the initial stages of the play. ‘Great Glamis’ and ‘worthy Cawdor’ provide
the impression that Lady Macbeth values her husband’s power over other worthwhile, moral
attributes. Shakespeare’s use of alliteration emphasises Lady Macbeth’s use of flattery and her
admiration for her husband’s highly esteemed position in society. The audience is exposed to the
respectful nature Lady Macbeth possesses for power, and we see this become an intense lust over
the course of the play. ‘My dearest love’, a reference by Macbeth for his wife, juxtaposes the way
Lady Macbeth addresses him. Whilst her sole focus was on Macbeths power and status, he uses
endearing, loving language when speaking to her. Shakespeare displays a clear contrast between
how they feel towards each other, and how love and power are held in different regards by both
characters. This relationship challenges societal norms within the Jacobean Era, as a stereotypical
marriage in this time period would consist of a doting, nurturing wife and a cold, uncaring
husband, contrasting Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. One could argue Lady Macbeth is concealing
her true feelings to avoid appearing weak and vulnerable, in a society where women already have
this reputation.
Furthermore, Shakespeare explores the idea of gender roles through the majority of Lady Macbeth
and Macbeths interactions during the play. ‘Live a coward’ uses dismissive language to display
Lady Macbeths contempt for Macbeth’s weakness. Despite his attempt to impress moral authority
upon his wife, Lady Macbeth immediately challenges his masculinity and views his attempt at
virtue as feeble and an act of fragility. Lady Macbeth is purposefully manipulating Macbeth with
her accusation of ‘coward’, as she is aware he will want to prove his strength to her out of love
and desire for her approval and admiration. Lady Macbeth’s awareness of her devious actions
illustrates the extent her cruelty can reach when she has a significant lust for something; in this
instance, the materialistic concept of power. The audience is exposed to this coercion on
numerous occasions, such as ‘too full of th’milk of human kindness’. The image ‘milk’ connotes
purity and innocence, attributes often assigned to women in the Jacobean Era. However, Lady
Macbeth is using this in association with Macbeth’s vulnerability and susceptibility to morality.
‘too full’ indicates she believes he is over capacitated with these feminine, overly moral
tendencies. This insult to Macbeth’s masculinity emotionally manipulates him to succumb to Lady
Macbeth’s dominating nature.
On the other hand, towards the end of the play, the audience views Macbeth as reflective on his
choices and compromising of his morals. ‘she should have died hereafter’ challenges the fate he
has been subjected to. Shakespeare’s use of this line in a soliloquy emphasises the truth behind
Macbeth’s words, and how we are being exposed to his innermost thoughts and feelings. The use
of ‘she’ provides a cold, impersonal tone and contrasts the affection he previously addressed Lady
Macbeth with. Macbeth has lost all the love and admiration he had for his wife, as he begins to
recognise her controlling manner led to his downfall. ‘hereafter’ connotes that her death proved
relationship.
Shakespeare presents Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as characters in a complex, problematic
relationship, in which there is a constant power imbalance. The audience is exposed to the
struggle for control within their marriage, and how this results in the demise of them both.
Shakespeare manipulates the two-fold structure of the play to mirror the deterioration of their
relationship due to the lack of shared morality and extreme severity of their lust for power.
Shakespeare immediately depicts a power imbalance within their marriage through his use of
contrasting epithets in the initial stages of the play. ‘Great Glamis’ and ‘worthy Cawdor’ provide
the impression that Lady Macbeth values her husband’s power over other worthwhile, moral
attributes. Shakespeare’s use of alliteration emphasises Lady Macbeth’s use of flattery and her
admiration for her husband’s highly esteemed position in society. The audience is exposed to the
respectful nature Lady Macbeth possesses for power, and we see this become an intense lust over
the course of the play. ‘My dearest love’, a reference by Macbeth for his wife, juxtaposes the way
Lady Macbeth addresses him. Whilst her sole focus was on Macbeths power and status, he uses
endearing, loving language when speaking to her. Shakespeare displays a clear contrast between
how they feel towards each other, and how love and power are held in different regards by both
characters. This relationship challenges societal norms within the Jacobean Era, as a stereotypical
marriage in this time period would consist of a doting, nurturing wife and a cold, uncaring
husband, contrasting Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. One could argue Lady Macbeth is concealing
her true feelings to avoid appearing weak and vulnerable, in a society where women already have
this reputation.
Furthermore, Shakespeare explores the idea of gender roles through the majority of Lady Macbeth
and Macbeths interactions during the play. ‘Live a coward’ uses dismissive language to display
Lady Macbeths contempt for Macbeth’s weakness. Despite his attempt to impress moral authority
upon his wife, Lady Macbeth immediately challenges his masculinity and views his attempt at
virtue as feeble and an act of fragility. Lady Macbeth is purposefully manipulating Macbeth with
her accusation of ‘coward’, as she is aware he will want to prove his strength to her out of love
and desire for her approval and admiration. Lady Macbeth’s awareness of her devious actions
illustrates the extent her cruelty can reach when she has a significant lust for something; in this
instance, the materialistic concept of power. The audience is exposed to this coercion on
numerous occasions, such as ‘too full of th’milk of human kindness’. The image ‘milk’ connotes
purity and innocence, attributes often assigned to women in the Jacobean Era. However, Lady
Macbeth is using this in association with Macbeth’s vulnerability and susceptibility to morality.
‘too full’ indicates she believes he is over capacitated with these feminine, overly moral
tendencies. This insult to Macbeth’s masculinity emotionally manipulates him to succumb to Lady
Macbeth’s dominating nature.
On the other hand, towards the end of the play, the audience views Macbeth as reflective on his
choices and compromising of his morals. ‘she should have died hereafter’ challenges the fate he
has been subjected to. Shakespeare’s use of this line in a soliloquy emphasises the truth behind
Macbeth’s words, and how we are being exposed to his innermost thoughts and feelings. The use
of ‘she’ provides a cold, impersonal tone and contrasts the affection he previously addressed Lady
Macbeth with. Macbeth has lost all the love and admiration he had for his wife, as he begins to
recognise her controlling manner led to his downfall. ‘hereafter’ connotes that her death proved
