The Significance of the Domestic Struggle of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
Discussion of the Domestic Struggle of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth through Themes
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s more renowned tragedy plays. It has been praised for its powerful exploration of the psychology behind the ideas of ambition, deception and gender roles, mainly through the characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Some may go as far as to say that the play itself, as a whole, is essentially a domestic struggle between a man and his wife. Despite this, to say a domestic struggle is all that Macbeth is, is to limit its meaning as a tragic play by overlooking other themes that do no revolve around the relationship of the two characters.
The domestic struggle between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth happens mainly throughout the beginning of the play alongside the major theme of ambition. Lady Macbeth surprises the viewer with her violent nature and seemingly lack of conscience during the beginning part of the play. She is aware that her husband’s nature is not one of a murderer and she says this by using the metaphor, “too full o’the milk of human kindness” (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 15). Knowing that her husband does not have the “masculinity” to murder Duncan, she plots the details of the murder herself and manages to manipulate her husband by belittling his manhood, “and live a coward in thine own esteem” (Act 1, Scene 7, Line 43). Therefore it can be seen that during the beginning half of the play, the theme of ambition intertwines with the domestic struggle of Macbeth and his dominating wife.
Ultimately it must be realised however, that Lady Macbeth’s influence over her husband and her role in the play diminishes as the plot progresses. Since there is no evidence to show that Lady Macbeth encourages the plotting of the deaths of Macduff’s family and Banquo, it is clear to the viewer that it is Macbeth’s ambition rather than his wife driving his apparent need to be rid of any threats to his throne. The thought of Lady Macbeth not knowing about Macbeth’s plot
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s more renowned tragedy plays. It has been praised for its powerful exploration of the psychology behind the ideas of ambition, deception and gender roles, mainly through the characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Some may go as far as to say that the play itself, as a whole, is essentially a domestic struggle between a man and his wife. Despite this, to say a domestic struggle is all that Macbeth is, is to limit its meaning as a tragic play by overlooking other themes that do no revolve around the relationship of the two characters.
The domestic struggle between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth happens mainly throughout the beginning of the play alongside the major theme of ambition. Lady Macbeth surprises the viewer with her violent nature and seemingly lack of conscience during the beginning part of the play. She is aware that her husband’s nature is not one of a murderer and she says this by using the metaphor, “too full o’the milk of human kindness” (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 15). Knowing that her husband does not have the “masculinity” to murder Duncan, she plots the details of the murder herself and manages to manipulate her husband by belittling his manhood, “and live a coward in thine own esteem” (Act 1, Scene 7, Line 43). Therefore it can be seen that during the beginning half of the play, the theme of ambition intertwines with the domestic struggle of Macbeth and his dominating wife.
Ultimately it must be realised however, that Lady Macbeth’s influence over her husband and her role in the play diminishes as the plot progresses. Since there is no evidence to show that Lady Macbeth encourages the plotting of the deaths of Macduff’s family and Banquo, it is clear to the viewer that it is Macbeth’s ambition rather than his wife driving his apparent need to be rid of any threats to his throne. The thought of Lady Macbeth not knowing about Macbeth’s plot