In the tragic play, “Macbeth”, playwright Shakespeare explores a multitude of consequences
of overambition and regicide, with one of these being the destruction of a once loving
marriage. He successfully depicts the Macbeths’ dynamic relationship as he introduces his
audience to them being kind, loving and nurturing to each other in the first act. However, as
the play progresses, their bond regresses due to the internal battles they separately fight
with as they deal with their overwhelming guilt. Ultimately, by the end of the play their love
is completely shattered as Macbeth shows no sign of emotion towards his now dead wife.
The beginning of the play introduces the audience to the first interactment of the
Macbeths’, with Macbeth calling his wife his “dearest love”. This immediately sets the tone
between them as the adjective “dearest” implies that Lady Macbeth is singularly the most
important and cherished person in Macbeth’s life. This feeling is further strengthened by
the way Macbeth calls her his “dearest partner of greatness”. The noun “partner” suggests
that they complete each other and fulfill all activities together, which foreshadows their
collaboration in the murder of King Duncan, as the audience can see Macbeth is not
mentally strong enough to commit the murder by himself, and needs Lady Macbeth’s
manipulation in order to gain the title of the King. Moreover, the noun “greatness” reveals
how he feels their future together will be due to the witches' prophecies, however an
audience that knows the play will know that this noun forebodes their future as everything
will turn against them due to the fact that they committed regicide. Regicide was viewed as
the worst possible crime someone could commit during the Jacobean Era, as the Great Chain
Of Being theorised that God appointed the King Himself. Therefore, the Macbeths’ actions
can be seen as going directly against God, which thus induced the horrible consequences
that they faced. However, their combined lust for power made them blind to this fact, and
the way they handled the situation together still shows how much love and trust they had
for each other at the beginning of the play; they both knew what they were about to do was
highly dangerous if anyone found out, yet they still trusted each other to keep it to
themselves. Furthermore, upon reading the letter, Lady Macbeth claims she will “chastise”
Macbeth into murdering the king. To the audience, this verb implies that she will harass and
pressure Macbeth into it, however to her it meant that she was helping and encouraging him
to achieve his full potential. This therefore shows how Lady Macbeth can be believed to have
had good intentions for her loved husband Macbeth, as she only wanted to help him so that
he could fulfil his “metaphysical” fate, and so that they could both thrive as King and
Queen.
of overambition and regicide, with one of these being the destruction of a once loving
marriage. He successfully depicts the Macbeths’ dynamic relationship as he introduces his
audience to them being kind, loving and nurturing to each other in the first act. However, as
the play progresses, their bond regresses due to the internal battles they separately fight
with as they deal with their overwhelming guilt. Ultimately, by the end of the play their love
is completely shattered as Macbeth shows no sign of emotion towards his now dead wife.
The beginning of the play introduces the audience to the first interactment of the
Macbeths’, with Macbeth calling his wife his “dearest love”. This immediately sets the tone
between them as the adjective “dearest” implies that Lady Macbeth is singularly the most
important and cherished person in Macbeth’s life. This feeling is further strengthened by
the way Macbeth calls her his “dearest partner of greatness”. The noun “partner” suggests
that they complete each other and fulfill all activities together, which foreshadows their
collaboration in the murder of King Duncan, as the audience can see Macbeth is not
mentally strong enough to commit the murder by himself, and needs Lady Macbeth’s
manipulation in order to gain the title of the King. Moreover, the noun “greatness” reveals
how he feels their future together will be due to the witches' prophecies, however an
audience that knows the play will know that this noun forebodes their future as everything
will turn against them due to the fact that they committed regicide. Regicide was viewed as
the worst possible crime someone could commit during the Jacobean Era, as the Great Chain
Of Being theorised that God appointed the King Himself. Therefore, the Macbeths’ actions
can be seen as going directly against God, which thus induced the horrible consequences
that they faced. However, their combined lust for power made them blind to this fact, and
the way they handled the situation together still shows how much love and trust they had
for each other at the beginning of the play; they both knew what they were about to do was
highly dangerous if anyone found out, yet they still trusted each other to keep it to
themselves. Furthermore, upon reading the letter, Lady Macbeth claims she will “chastise”
Macbeth into murdering the king. To the audience, this verb implies that she will harass and
pressure Macbeth into it, however to her it meant that she was helping and encouraging him
to achieve his full potential. This therefore shows how Lady Macbeth can be believed to have
had good intentions for her loved husband Macbeth, as she only wanted to help him so that
he could fulfil his “metaphysical” fate, and so that they could both thrive as King and
Queen.
