Comparing Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

There's no play written by William Shakespeare that doesn’t have a relationship with love of any kind. These plays generally end happily, but the relationship that holds this significant function, that is love, is expressed most peculiarly in the case of Macbeth. Shakespeare gives the viewer a villainous couple instead of the average "happily ever after" resolution an audience might expect. We would consider their partnership to be an average relationship between husband and wife, but the relationship has many differences and similarities, making it much more enjoyable for the viewer to see the path of it.

Macbeth and Lady Macebth’s marriage is layed out in a different way, would not be called as a normal couple due to that time era. In anticipation we ultimately meet Lady Macbeth, subsequently the viewers would have to imagine how similar the two are. Furthermore, as we notice Macebth sends a letter to his wife automatically with no hesitation, and as he didnt have to confirm with anyone to send out that letter to Lady Macbeth this salient evidence that they always had a strong relationship that involves love and trust towards eachother, “my dearest partner in greatness.” (I. v. 11). As for Lady Macbeth she is loyal to her husband and has myriad of trust in him, but as a consequence she only trusts him as long as Macbeth is in her control. During the Middle Ages men were expected to be the higher superior figure in a marriage, it would be fortuitous for a women to appear as the higher role. The comparison that the audience can point out just by Lady Macbeth’s first scene is a significant comparison as she states, “I fear thy nature is too full o’ the milk of human kindness.”(I. V. 16-7, this quote expresses that Lady Macbeth is a more aggressive character than her husband Macbeth. Hence, thats why she worries that, “Bellona’s bridegroom”(I. iii. 62), maybe he’s too kind; but when he approaches her. Macbeth trusts her wholeheartedly as he describes in the letter, “My dearest love.”(I. vi. 67). Macbeth is easily under her control as his loyalty shows us, even when he has a clear view on what his wife is leading him into moreover, as he discovers that she is minipualting him into the plan to kill King Duncan as she brags about the benefits innocently to Macbeth, “Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t.”(I. vi. 76-8). This discloses how more of a solid character is shown by Lady Macbeth considering the opposite for her uncertain husband.

A significant difference among the couple is that even Macbeth is shown to have a vaulting desire. In the beginning, a more perceived and dangerous desire is protrayed by Lady Macbeth, “Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top full of direst cruelty.”(I. v. 47-50). As for Macbeth, he never really felt combertable to create some type of communication towards the devil or any dark spirit. Audience might assume that he would want to as his desire got deeper and he naturally would want to remove his guilty conscience he would have daily. Nevertheless, his wife had a more valuating ambition at this time, thus, she instantly strips herself from all guilt or fear she would of had which expresses her exceeding desire. Although Lady Macbeth's ambition could be more vaulting unlike Macbeth's, both aim to claim the crown as well as use it for their devilish purposes, “If it were done when ‘tis done, ‘twere well it were done quickly.”(I. vii. 1-2). Macbeth slowly but steadily entering into his doom is where we see as brave Macbeth becomes endorse into a trap made by himself. In the beginning as her valuating ambition was awakened, she comfirmed that she never acquired any guilt or conscience nothing stood in the way of what she wanted to do, “You shall put this night’s great business into my dispatch.”(I. vi. 78-9). Even as a respected warrior, Macbeth alone, is not tough enough to respond to the hideous crime of killing as “business”. In comparison with Lady Macbeth's inhumanity, and Macbeth's spiritual uncertainty is, “If good, why to do I yield to that suggestion…”(I. iii. 147)/ “I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent only vaulting ambition.”(I. vii. 25-7). The mere idea of murder to Macbeth creates emotional chaos in his head.  His better nature, and his ethics, is in intense tension with his increasing priority, even forsaking his soul, to sit on the throne at any expense. Even so, Lady Macbeth, who is infinitely more ambitious, driven, even obsessive than her husband, easily persuades him, “I am settled and bent upeach corporal agent to this terrible feat.”(I. vii. 92-3). However, she does not stop, as she continues a very entrancing act to keep anyone from being suspicious towards the couple.

Lady Macbeth, unlike her husband, is a clever character. She is driven by whatever means possible to fulfil her ambition. Lady Macbeth’s using her limitless manipulative abilities likewise this ruthlessness produces the best character in the whole play, “Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed.”(I. vii. 38-9).  Macbeth displayed his manhood infront of Lady Macbeth as weak. Men during this period would often be more powerful and brave which offers many benefits to one during the Middle Ages. His wife amde sure Macbeth knew he was a coward as he makes a exemplary use of his weakness, “And live like a coward in thine own esteem letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would” like the poor cat i’th adage.”(I. vii. 47-9). Lady Macbeth made this point directly to him due to him having a overwhelming conscience which shows the comparison between the two. Macbeth also does not mask his real emotions, and he shows by declining to join Duncan's welcoming to the dinner they invited him to as we assume he was hiding from the King dueto the next steps of the plan that he was hesiatting about. One of the biggest characteristics that they have in common is the remorse, fear, and several problems that they have to face coming up, brought on by the murder of King Duncan, notwithstanding several discrepancies among Macbeth and his wife, “These deeds must not be thought after these ways; so it will make us mad”/ “Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more.”(II. ii. 45-7).  It's the defining moment of their marriage; they are more joined by the assassination of Duncan as if they'll find a greater occurrence to get them together than the execution of a king. Macbeth’s good personality and loyalty enhances the amount of guilt Macbeth feels after his terrible task, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand.”(II. ii. 78-9). This compares with the small level of remorse faced by Lady Macbeth, “A little water clears us of this deed how easy is it then”(II. ii. 86). Lady Macbeth was badly mistaken for herself as it wasa shock to her how much the Execution of Duncan impacted her and completely changed her whole feelings, reactions, and emotions towards her pervious mentality and changed Macbeth aswell. Lady Macbeth was converted into a weak, helpless creature, overwhelmed by fear, while Macbeth became a nefarious man, committing one horrendous act after another. “Out damned spot – out I say.”(V. i. 37).  It appears that it wasn't as easy to wash the shame off her hands as Lady Macbeth assumed, “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O.”(V.  i. 53-5)This compares with the wicked tyrant that Macbeth became cruel one act after the other, especially took a turn when he got professional killers to murder Macduff’s innocent son, and wife. This all concluded to a exorbitant, intense ending, all to the fact that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth wanting the throne in the first place by keeping their trust in supernaturals, witches and other myths that bluilded up in their heads.

The bond between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, indeed, is a turbulent one that carries connections as well as variants. One might equate it to an alignment; with great desire and corruption, Lady Macbeth is powerful at first, whereas in his conscience, Macbeth is soft. However, this role moves as the story continues. With several acts of murder and arrogance, Macbeth then becomes strong and more vaulting than ever before to retain the throne for him, while Lady Macbeth appears lighter with her overwhelming shame and fear, leading eventually to her death. In terms of ambition, conscience and determination, although there may have been many differences and similarities between the two; yet they had but one aspect in common, they each realized what they're doing is wrong and preferred the direction of evil and over the path of the good.