Starting with this extract (Act 3 Scene 4), Explore how Shakespere presents

the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth.

In Shakespere’s tragedy ‘Macbeth’, The complex relationship between Macbeth and

Lady Macbeth actively demonstrates layers within the relationship, consisting of
absolute devotion to each other, all the way to almost disdain towards each other.
The relationship appears unusually strong at the inception of the play, which could
maybe act as an early warning sign to the chaos that the partnership would descend
into towards the conclusion of the play.

In the exposition of the play, the relationship between the pair seems to be extremely
strong, with Macbeth describing Lady Macbeth as his ‘dearest partner in greatness’,
in act 1 scene 5. The use of the noun ‘partners’ illustrates the unusual equality that
the pair have. In the Jacobean era, it was highly unlikely that Lady Macbeth would
have this form of equalnes in her relationship. This may have been a preemptive
warning of the power struggle that the pair share, potentially leading to a fatal
hamartia. This being coupled with the illustrious noun ‘greatness’ and the emotive
adjective ‘dearest’ shows Lady Macbeth’s worth to Macbeth, and how much of a high
esteem that she is held in by her Husband.

Despite the clear strength that is held in the relationship, this later fades away with
Shakespeare creating obvious distances between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In
act 1 scene 7 for example, Macbeth makes the authoritative statement ‘We shall
proceed no further in this business’. This is the first time that we see Macbeth stamp
his masculinity upon Lady Macbeth, therefore showing that maybe this reat. The
imperative verb ‘shall’ suggests that this decision is final, and that they will not be
killing Duncan, therefore disrupting the Great Chain of Being. It also is the first time
that we see the balance tip within the relationship. However, this power advantage
doesn’t last long, as Lady Macbeth dismisses the attempt at authority from Macbeth,
as she replies with ‘when you durst do it, then you are a man’. This harsh tone that
this is undoubtedly said in emphasises her intent that this will be done. The
emasculating phrase ‘then you are man’ highlights the type of encouragement that
Lady Macbeth is pushing upon her Husband. This may be a catalyst for the mental
issues that Macbeth experiences later in the play. To the Jacobean audience, this
would have been incredibly unusual to see. Women were expected to serve the
husband, and not really stand up to him as Lady Macbeth does here. This could
maybe add to Shakespeare's attempts to paint Lady Macbeth as the villain, the id in
Macbeth’s life. This would have unequivocally scared the audience, playing into the
fear of femanine power. Despite this, other readers may argue that Lady Macbeth is
actually the protagonist in this situation. She pushes Macbeth to greater heights, and
it could be argued that this could replace the tragic tale that was their child, therefore
this ambition that she has for Macbeth to reach up the Scottish hierarchy, could just
be to make him happy. This would put Lady Macbeth on a pedestal, with some here
calling her acts selfless.
In act 3 scene 4, we really see the strain that the relationship has been under
throughout the play. Lady Macbeth states that ‘This is the very painting of your fear’,
which is a blatant insult directed at Macbeth. The noun ‘painting’ suggests that the
‘fear’ that Macbeth is feeling is almost make believe, thought up by an artist and
painted in a fictional manner. This is yet another insult thrown at Macbeth by Lady
Macbeth, who is saying here that the fear that he is feeling is false, and he should
just snap out of it. Earlier in the act, she agin insults him, asking ‘are you a man?’.
This emasculation of Macbeth would have been unheard of in the Jacobean era, as
again women were expected to almost bow down to their husbands, not to be as
strong as Lady Macbeth.

Considering all of the evidence that has presented, the Macbeth’s appear to be very
comfortable in their marriage, perhaps approaching too comfortable, which could be
seen as an early warning sign of the troubled future. Their opposite ideas about
ambition drive a division between the two, which just leads to the breakdown of the
previously successful relationship.