Monday, January 20, 2014

How does Shakespeare present the relationship of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the first two acts of Macbeth?

In the first two acts of the play, Shakespeare largely presents that Macbeths as equals within their relationship, companions who are very well matched and suited to one another.  When Macbeth writes a letter home to his wife, he calls her his "dearest partner of greatness" and says that he's written to her so that she "might'st not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee" (1.5.11, 12-13).  Thus, he considers her to be his partner, his equal, something that would be fairly unusual during the era in which the play is set (the first half of the 11th century) or the era in which Shakespeare is writing (the first half of the 17th century).  Further, he cares a great deal about her feelings and her happiness, and he wouldn't want to deprive her of any reason to feel glad, as he's sure she will when she's learned of his new title and the Weird Sisters' prophecies.


Even after Macbeth has murdered Duncan, the Macbeths seem to complement one another.  When he panics, she remains calm.  When he is too afraid to return the daggers to the room, she is willing.  When he feels his conscience is too laden, now, with guilt, she assures him that "A little water clears [them] of this deed" (2.2.86).  Then, when Duncan's death is discovered, and Macbeth breaks from the plan and kills the chamberlains that he and Lady Macbeth were attempting to frame, others begin to look somewhat suspiciously upon Macbeth, questioning his actions.  Lady Macbeth distracts them by pretending to swoon, crying, "Help me hence, ho!" so that attention will be drawn away from him and on to her (2.3.138).  In all, the couple seems to work well together because they have a genuine care for one another and are relative equals within their relationship.

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