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Homework Help: English: Books, Novels & Plays: Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
by Keyshia Miller
Comment on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship in the key scenes. How and why does the balance of power change between them?
The audience, before act 3, know that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have a strong, close relationship. They confide and tell each other everything. The audience also find out that they rely on each other a lot, until after the murders, when they are both secretly in guilt. I think Lady Macbeth has the most power in their relationship, especially in act 3, yet Macbeth is very powerful with other people. In a way she pushes Macbeth into situations which always results with him in guilt. Lady Macbeth tries to help her husband overcome his guilt, but suffers from it so much herself that she dies because of it "’Tis safer to be that which we destroy, than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy". At the beginning until around the middle of the play Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are completely confident in one another and everything they do, the audience later find out that the relationship was not so strong after all when it all falls apart.
The meeting in Act 3, Scene 1 between Macbeth and the murderers show how deceiving he is to his loyal friend "In our last conference, pass’d in probation with you how you were borne in hand, how cross’d, the instruments, who wrought with them, and all things else that might to half a soul and to a notion craz’d say, "thus did Banquo." The meeting also suggests that Macbeth is very secretive and conscious about not telling his wife. By not telling Lady Macbeth that he is killing Banquo, Macbeth is showing that he is frightened at what might happen, or not happen. The guilt and nervousness at this stage is kicking in, this is shown by not telling Lady Macbeth his terrible plan. The couple work together a lot in the play, and this is the first scene we see Macbeth doing something independently. Macbeth does not tell Lady Macbeth about killing Banquo, but he keeps on giving her clues. I think he doesn't want to tell her because he doesn't trust anyone anymore and that he is fed up with her bossing him around, so he wants to do something by himself.
Comment on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship in the key scenes. How and why does the balance of power change between them?
In Act 3, Scene 2 both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are depressed, they are insecure in their positions because they are scared of Banquo and Macduff. They both think that being King and Queen is what they want, but it’s not fun for them because of the way they get the throne. Both of them said that it would be better to be dead than to live the lives that they are living now. Because Lady Macbeth tells him that all of his fears and worries should have died with Duncan, Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth "We have scotch'd the snake not killed it," meaning that that they have only hurt his fears not killed them. Macbeth then talks about eating in fear, and about having nightmares every night. "Ere, we will eat our meals in fear and sleep in the affliction of these terrible dreams that shake us nightly." Macbeth then says "Better be with the dead than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy." This shows us just how depressed Macbeth really is. He wants peace, so he is jealous of the dead because nothing can harm or disturb them. Lady Macbeth is the one in control in this scene, they are both very week but she comforts him as if he was her child. The audience can see this because Lady Macbeth is trying to cheer him up for the banquet.
I think from my opinion that Lady Macbeth seems to be in most control again in this Scene. In acts 3, scene 4, Macbeth has to convince everyone that he is relaxed, even though he is so worried, that he wants to be dead. Macbeth shows that he is social, friendly and informal, by sitting and drinking amongst his guests. "Ourself will mingle with Society and play the humble host. Our hostess keeps her state; but, in best time we will require her welcome." Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, stays in her seat at the high table, she keeps her distance. Because she is still tense and worried and she doesn't trust herself to speak. Then the murder comes in with blood on his face and Macbeth learns of Fleance's escape and his mood changes completely. "Then comes my fit again" he says. The murderer tells him that Banquo was killed and this makes Macbeth pleased, but Fleance escaped and Macbeth becomes frightened. Fleance could still create a whole line of ‘heirs to the throne.’ Macbeth is so wrapped up in his worries about Fleance that he forgets his guests. So Lady Macbeth has to come to his rescue and keep him in line. After getting back to the feast, Macbeth is invited to sit on a seat, but Banquo's ghost is sitting on it. Macbeth's first reaction is to blame someone else. Even though he knows that it was him who killed Banquo. Then he denies having anything to do with Banquo's death. "Thou canst not say I did it." Showing how guilty he really now is. Lady Macbeth, shocked, bewildered and embarrassed at his actions, uses her weapon to try and bring him to his senses. She questions his manhood, which usually makes him behave himself immediately but now, he is so scared, it doesn't make the slightest difference. "Are you a man?" Then the ghost disappears and Macbeth returns to his senses. "I do forget - do not muse at me, my worthy friends. I have a strange infirmity, which is nothing to those that know me." Then he says "To our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss: would he be here! To all, and him, we thirst, and all to all." In other words he is saying "I miss Banquo, I wish that he was here." As if there is an invitation, the ghost of Banquo appears again and now Macbeth crumbles. At the end he is left with nothing but thoughts of death and evil.
Homework Help: English: Books, Novels, and Plays
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