Shakespeare assignment – Macbeth

How does Shakespeare present the relationship between Macbeth

and Lady Macbeth?

Macbeth was written at a time of protestant and political reformation in

renaissance England. The country was torn and confused as to which religion
they should model their ethical and social beliefs on. The doctrine of belief for
this new and evolving religion, states that human beings are incurably evil and
can only find grace in the reading and practise of religious scripture.
Protestantism was a looser and less strict religion than Catholicism. This gave
Protestants more freedom in the sixteenth century, they could interpret the
religion as they saw fit and sculpt the doctrine around their lives.

Such religious theology inspired and challenged many themes in Shakespeare’s

play of Macbeth, ambition, desire, guilt and deception. The incurable evil of
ambition manifests itself in many forms that all add weight to the corruption and
downfall of a great man. But the fall of the great Macbeth is also interlinked with
an even more tragic descent, which resonates as clearly in the twenty-first
centaury as it did over four hundred years ago; The fall of a powerfully loving
and intense relationship due to ambition and incurable evil, which is
demonstrated here by the relationship between Macbeth and his “dearest
partner of greatness” (1.5.10). Lady Macbeth.

Shakespeare introduces the play’s violent motif from the outset as he describes
the tragic hero and his bloody exploits on the battlefield. The captain praises
Macbeth as he refers to him as “like valour’s minion carving out his passage”
(1.2.20). In essence, the instrumental force in winning the conflict and bringing
honour to King Duncan. Ross, one of the Scottish thanes, bestows Macbeth with
the second great comment; Ross is heard calling Macbeth “Bellona’s bridegroom”
(1.2.54). as he sums up Macbeth’s skill on the battlefield. Here we see
Shakespeare reverting back to his classical influences; he makes direct reference
to the roman God of war, Bellona.

As Shakespeare describes Macbeth he presents the hero as a: violent, brave,

warrior. However, the highest and most important remark bestowed on
Macbeth is from his King: “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman” (1.2.24). This
statement by Duncan is so powerful it convinces us without a shadow of a doubt
that Macbeth is a perfect, upstanding and loyal man, whose sole reason for being
is to serve King and country. Macbeth is seen to be the perfect role model to
classic and contemporary audiences alike.

Lady Macbeth is a complete contrast to her husband; she is also a complete

contrast to the social ideology in the sixteenth centaury. Lady Macbeth is a
dominant, controlling and powerful wife who questions her husband’s manhood
on numerous occasions: “It is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness” (1.5.16). She is
clearly the dominant force in their relationship; She says of Macbeth: “Art not
without ambition, but without the illness should attend it” (1.5.18). Lady Macbeth
is menacingly ambitious and distastefully unfeminine.

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There is a complete role reversal between the two characters that would have
conjured up a disliking of Lady Macbeth by the Jacobean audiences. Shakespeare
corrupts the stereotypical catholic rules on marriage and, roles of the man and
women, he uses his own interpretation of Protestantism to shock and enlighten
audiences. The couple does however, have an intense and loving relationship at
the start of the play, but it’s the strength of their relationship combined with
Lady Macbeth’ s ambition that allows her to take control of Macbeth.

Macbeth is said to be “like valour’s minion” (1.2.20). When ridding Duncan of his
problems. A bloodthirsty warrior that will stop at nothing to uphold his social
and religious ideals, Macbeth fights with a pure heart. Lady Macbeth is the
negative to this; she is strong and will fight for what she believes to be right,
however, her beliefs are evil and cruel. She sets out to convince Macbeth that he
should feel ashamed of his morals and ashamed of not being incurably evil, she
says “Hie thee hither. That I may pour my spirits in thine ear; And chastise with the
valour of my tongue, All that impedes thee from the golden round” (1.5.27). She
uses quick - witted rhetoric to poison Macbeth’s thoughts.

During Act one scene five we see Lady Macbeth put on her metaphorical mask.
She realises that Macbeth is not up to the task and she’ll have to manipulate and
support her husband if their plan of murder is to succeed. She implores Macbeth:
“Look like the time, bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue-look like th’
innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t” (1.5.64-65). She uses Macbeth as a
mask for her own evil that leads him to forget himself and enter her world of
deception.

Although Lady Macbeth has tried to manipulate and control her husband’s
actions so far, she’s still to convince him to commit the murder. Macbeth desires
the throne, but the consequences of eternal damnation has him thinking twice
about selling his soul for a brief moment of pleasure. What follows in scene seven
is an extremely powerful performance by Lady Macbeth. She uses violent
language and stabbing rhetorical questions such as: “Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?” (1.7.35-36). Along with “But
screw your courage to the sticking place, And we’ll not fail” (1.7.60-61). Using this
language to bully Macbeth to play his part.

Lady Macbeth ends her rampage by conjuring up the image of her bludgeoning
her own baby to death and shaming Macbeth if he does not keep his word to her.
She is a prime example of incurable evil in Protestantism, and also the snake,
convincing her partner to eat the fruit.

The relationship changes subsequent to the murder. Lady Macbeth is no longer

the antagonist and takes on a more paternal role in their relationship, protecting
herself and her husband from suspicion. Macbeth regrets his actions after the
murder but in comparison Lady Macbeth deals with her guilt very effectively.

Shakespeare uses water as a symbol of purity, blood and guilt. For lady Macbeth,
who hasn’t come to terms with her guilt the blood, washes easily from her hands:
“A little water clears us of this deed. How easy is it then” (2.2.64-65). It is a
different story for Macbeth. “Will all neptune’s oceans wash this blood clean from
my hands” (2.2.59).

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Macbeth is crowned king shortly after the murder of Duncan and becomes more
and more isolated from his wife. His ambition after the murder escalates and he
does not need the support and help of his wife. Macbeth takes the reins and
starts making his own decisions; He lovingly demands of his wife: “Be innocent of
the knowledge, dearest chuck” (3.2.48). Effectively keeping Lady Macbeth in the
dark about other murders he has planned, such as the murder of Banquo.

The final scene in which we see the two lovers together is during the state
banquet in Act three scene four. Here we see a Macbeth wrought with guilt and
the slow degeneration of his mental powers. Lady Macbeth covers for him but
again questions his manhood: “Are you a man?” (3.4.57). Macbeth is extremely
isolated from her and answers her attacks with more confidence then before:
“Ay, and a bold one, that dare look on that Which might appal the devil” (3.4.58-
59).

A complete role reversal has now taken place between Macbeth and his wife. He
has come to terms with the monster he has become and without guilt rules the
country with brutality, effectively becoming a tyrant. Lady Macbeth has finally
come to terms with her guilt and broken under it. The symbolic bloodstain can’t
be removed from Lady Macbeth’s dress, no matter how she demands it: “Out
damned spot – Out I say” (5.1.33).

‘Macbeth’ is a play to be performed therefore many different interpretations of

how the change in Macbeth could be represented. In many performances
Macbeths costume changes at this point from red and gold to red and black. This
acts to represent the evil now deep embedded in his sole.

Macbeth’s ambition and murdering greed has now completely over shadowed
the love he once held for his wife and the love he held for himself. He is now an
empty shell. Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s reaction to his wife’s death as a
reflection of how he feels about himself. “Of this dead butcher and his fiend like
queen” (5.7.98). Stated by Malcolm in Act five accurately depicts the monster
Macbeth had become by the end of the play, although I don’t believe Macbeth is
an evil man. He does however, posses evil thoughts that are a kin to the human
neurosis. The butcher is Macbeth’s alter ego; His way of dealing with Lady
Macbeth and her evil taunts. When the butcher is in control, he needs not the
support of his wife. However, when Macbeth the man has taken control, he is
weak to his wife. I believe that Macbeth used his evil side as a defence
mechanism against his wife and it was her in fact who drove him to madness.
Shakespeare presents a strong man, who is weak to his own consciousness and
the social expectations of what a man should be.

I conclude that Shakespeare’s presentation of the two tragic characters and their
relationship is one of depressing ugliness’s and extreme contrast. I believe that
Lady Macbeth represents Protestantism and the incurable evil of the human soul

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stated in the protestant’s holy doctrine. Lady Macbeth however, interprets the
religion how she pleases and uses her own interpretations to construct excuses
for her evil doings. This neurosis prevents her from feeling any moral guilt
during the first Acts. But as we see, the excuses crumble and fall, as Macbeth
grows more and more distant from her, causing isolation and guilt to cripple and,
eventually kill the Macbeth’s “dearest partner of greatness” (1.5.10).

In contrast to his wife, I feel that Macbeth represents Catholicism and the strict
code of their doctrine. He is simple and less creative then his wife but places
more value on family values and his fellow man.

I would sum up their relationship as representing the two contrasting religions

present in England at the turn of the sixteenth centaury. Shakespeare may have
been stating that if both live side by side with out inflicting their beliefs on one
another, then England would be in harmony, such as at the start of the play.

I found Macbeth to be a strong heroic warrior but also a sensitive and weak-
minded man. Macbeth’s character can confuse easily; his acts of extreme violence
would disgust modern-day audiences but would have attracted the people of
Stewart England. Macbeths weak mind and character flaws would have appalled
Jacobean audiences but evoked feelings of sympathy and understanding from
twenty-first centaury going audiences.

I personally feel sympathy for Macbeth. Shakespeare has accurately brought to

light the weakness of human nature in which every man women and child share.
He has created a loving and brave man who is crippled by external forces.

Lady Macbeth is a strong woman who is completely ignorant to the sheer

magnitude of her wrong doings. The excuses she conjures up seem to sustain her
at the start of the play. She acts out of love for her husband but gets weary of his
kind nature leading her to resort verbal violence; attacking him with stabbing
rhetorical questions. Grinding the great man down to a mere shadow of his
former self.

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