Macbeth Essay

The Rise and fall of Two Lovers

A majority of Shakespeare’s story lines often involve tragedy and suffering in the relationships that he has created. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth we encounter Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship. Throughout the play, the two tragic heroes’ remain loyal to each other but their determination to gain power turned into violence and the outcome was dreadful. There are many words to describe Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship. One of the many factors that their relationship possesses is loyalty. In the beginning, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth always made decisions together but majority of the decisions were made by Lady Macbeth; it was more of her leading the plans and Macbeth following them. She persuaded Macbeth to kill Duncan to ensure both of them rule in the end. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth started to make uncalled decisions and choices that were not discussed beforehand it was as if Macbeth and Lady Macbeth switched roles. An example would be Macbeth killing the guards so they cannot deny what blame has been put against them. From them on, Macbeth was creating more tragedy and regardless how difficult it was for Lady Macbeth, she stayed loyal to her husband. She covered up for him and did everything she could to keep their secrets safe. An example would be the scene in the play where Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s friends came over for dinner where Macbeth was encountering Banquo’s ghost which seemed that he was going Malana2 insane. Lady Macbeth said to their confused friends “Sit worthy friends. My lord is often thus, and hath been from his youth. Pray you. Keep seat…..” (III.iv.53-58). She is saying this in regards to keeping Macbeth’s secret and covering him up to make sure that no one finds out about the crimes he committed. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had a goal since the beginning and since the day before they murdered Duncan. They worked together to benefit themselves since they both craved power. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s motivation were to ensure the prophecies that were said by the witches came true. They focused on only that since the day they heard about it. When they found out about the prophecy, they showed no mercy towards anyone that came in the way of their thrown to rule and dominate. In one of the scenes Lady Macbeth says “We fact, But screw your courage to sticking –place we’ll not fail.” (I.vii.59-61). She displays that her strive to power will be unbeatable. Killing Duncan broke what Macbeth still had left of his humanity and from then on, he had none other but determination and his powerful rage to be king. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth stayed true to each other up until Macbeth’s rise to gain power, where the violence and killing occurred and where his rage began. After killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth went insane. “Wash your hands; put on you night gown; look not so pale! I tell you yet again. Banquo’s buried. He cannot come on’s grave.” (v.1.62-64)). Lady Macbeth said this while she was sleep walking. She is saying exactly what she said on the night they murdered Duncan and the night Macbeth hired someone to murder Banquo. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth grew apart from each other. In getting what they desired, they had to commit murder and the outcome of violence was unbearable. Macbeth was able to keep going with his rage and Malana3 determination for power however, guilt killed Lady Macbeth. Macbeth did not care as much as he would have when she died because he found his hate for Macduff stronger than his love for him own wife. The two tragic heroes show a strong held relationship. They remained loyal to each other and both were determined to gain power. But the desire to possess power turned into violence, where everyone generations later are still afraid to say the horrifying and terrible name, Macbeth.