Hi, so i rewrote my essay to improve it, i was wondering what i would get out of 30 and how to improve it?
How does Shakespeare present Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship?
Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s relationship as unstable. At the start of the play, they appear to be loving partners, however the constant power struggle Slowly deteriorates their relationship until it becomes one of convenience rather than love. Shakespeare uses the character of Lady Macbeth to explore the effect that power dynamics in a relationship have on mental state
At the start of the play, in the letter Macbeth sends to his wife, he regards her as "my dearest partner", The noun "partner" suggests Macbeth views his wife as his equal, it also has connotations of a collaboration or partnership implying that they are both devoted, and both contribute equally to their relationship. Macbeth also uses endearing language such as "dearest" towards his wife which displays their loving relationship. However, an alternative interpretation is that although Macbeth uses endearing language, Lady Macbeth does not seem to show any affection back. Although perhaps she shows it in another way, like trying to help Macbeth become king.
From this point on, Lady Macbeth takes charge and leads Macbeth as She thinks he cannot achieve it on his own. She is worried that he is. too "full with the milk of huma Kindness", "Milk" has connotation of nurture and motherhood, the colour White symbolizes innocence and purity, these are stereotypically female traits, Lady Macbeth. starts to grow frustrated with Macbeth's incompetence calling him a "Coward" and belittling him, this is perhaps because he serves as a reminder of her own feminine traits that are restricting her from achieving her ambition. This is further evidenced when she says, "unsex me here", Lady Macbeth wants to rid he self or feminine traits such as kindness and love and perhaps also wants to rid herself of the societal restrictions of being a woman as well. All of this leads to Lady Macbeth needing Macbeth to achieve her ambitions as he is a man, and it is therefore easier for him to carry out the deed. This is why lady Macbeth resorts to mockery and manipulation because she so desperately wants the crown, but Macbeth's kind nature is in the way.
At this point in the play, it is clear that the power has shifted to lady Macbeth as she commands her husband and orchestrates the murder, using language such demanding and assertive language such as "Give me” and "Go" to further assert dominance. When Lady Macbeth was in control of Macbeth, she was also in a way in control of herself. As the only thing that was keeping her sane, was the illusion of being in control, in act 2 scene 2, when Macbeth experiences guilt directly after the murder, many argue that Lady Macbeth. feels no guilt until the end, however when faced with Macbeth' guilt, lady Macbeth speaks in short abrupt sentences perhaps hinting at her panic it at being exposed to Macbeths open display of guilt that is at a reflection of her own. By telling Macbeth, "A little water clears us of this deed", she is also reassuring herself. That is why when Macbeth goes rogue ad and reclaims the power in their relationship, Lady Macbeth can no longer cope as the illusion of being in control falls and Lady Macbeth is left with unbearable guilt as she can no longer use Macbeth to escape herself. This eventually leads to her death.
Macbeth reclaims control in the relation as he acts out on his own. and makes the decision to kill Banquo without telling Lady Macbeth. When Lady Macbeth dies, Macbeth shows no emotion or care, this reaction marks the death of their once loving relationship.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth had faced a tragic recent event before pursuing the throne, the death of their baby. Lady Macbeth says, "I have given suck" implying that she has breastfed a baby before, and recently because she still has milk. Shakespeare uses this to emphasize the tragedy of Macbeth and his downfall. Although the Jacobean audience at the time would feel no pathos for Macbeth as they are so horrified with the acts of regicide, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth evoke a feeling of pathos within the modern audience as they do not fear regicide but could perhaps empathize with Macbeth as both he and Lady Macbeth faced tragedy after tragedy until their deaths. Perhaps Shakespeare not only does this is to of course appeal to the king as it shows the consequences of disobeying the great chain of being but also to utilize their relationship and how they interact with each other to explore how different power dynamics have an effect on their relationship and psychology.