Lady Macbeth's Relationship

Relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Notes: In the opening scenes if the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth seemed to enjoy a close intimacy in that they share their deepest thoughts, but as the plot unfolds, she loses her iron grip on him and his murderous momentum gathers a speed of its own. Before Duncan’s death, her opening soliquy in Scene V of Act I shows that she does know him well. But after the death, her realization that her husband had become transformed into a stranger drove her to suicide.
Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here- This passage suggests that, for Lady Macbeth, being a reproductive woman could prevent her from committing a violent deed. She is prepared to sacrifice her femininity for
Art thou afeard
To be the same in thine own act and valour,
As thou art in desire?
In the killing scene, Lady Macbeth once again takes control of the situation when she urges Macbeth to gain composure and on Macbeth’s refusal to go back to the chamber, Lady Macbeth accuses Macbeth of being weak. Macbeth is left alone fascinated by his bloodstained hands and when Lady Macbeth returns she also displays bloodstained hands but she coldly says: “A little water clears us of this deed.
In the first Act Lady Macbeth is determined and she leads the debate on why they should commit the murder, but later on we see her fade away. As the events unfolds the audience witnesses, a great change over their relationship. Lady Macbeth scarcely speaks while Macbeth evokes terrifying and intense images. To survive mentally and find the strength to continue, they have to imagine a new world of evil and almost conjure it into existence
By Act 5 we witness a complete reversal of roles. Whereas before Lady Macbeth had been the leading role and stronger of the two, now she is deeply troubled by her guilty conscience. She walks in her sleep and imagines blood on her hands”What, will these hands never be
She protects him and defends him at the banquet. However as the play progresses, Lady Macbeth’s relationship with Macbeth deteriorates and we see more of her vulnerability and fragility.
Lady Macbeth is increasingly detached from her husband. He doesn’t confide in her anymore e.g. for Banquo’s murder. She loses her sanity, because she can no longer control Macbeth: “Shame itself! Why do you make such faces? When all’s done You look but on a stool.”
Lady Macbeth’s mental and physical condition deteriorate. Macbeth hardly notices. He is obsessed with his own plans. In the sleepwalking scene, Lady Macbeth spoke aloud her feelings of guilt: “What, will these hands ne’re be clean?” madly trying to clean the blood off her hand after recalling the murder of Duncan. In actual fact, Lady Macbeth’s madness shows that Macbeth didn’t know her as well as he thought- she wasn’t made of steel. She completely fell