Conflict between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth (Play Analysis)

Shakespeare shows conflict in the relationship between the two characters, in the extract by reversing the roles of man and women. In the extract Macbeth is presented as weak ‘I am afraid to think what I have done’ implies that Macbeth shows no courage but shows a great deal of guilt toward the traitorous act. Whereas in the extract Lady Macbeth manifests what Macbeth was at the start of the play, courageous and heroic. ‘Infirm of purpose’ shows Lady Macbeth has the nerve to call out Macbeth on being a coward. The role reversal of men and women is clear here, as women are presented as weak and cowardly people in the 15th century, whereas men were seen as more capable and valiant. 

Shakespeare uses negative language because she wants to show that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are the villains of this play. ‘This the eye of childhood ,that fears a painted devil’ this shows the two characters are in conflict with each other, Lady Macbeth refers to Macbeth as a child implying he does not have the courage to do what is needed to ensure the prophecy of what is needed to be done. In addition to tis, childhood represents innocence and she implies only children are afraid of scary pictures. It also shows that Macbeth is conflicted himself, he is unsure if he has made the right decision or wether his wife’s influence has made him commit the act of treason. 

Shakespeare suggests that Macbeth is weak as he has handed most of the power in their relationship to his wife!  Lady Macbeth, is shown for having too much power in this extract, that it could be seen as unnatural. 

However, throughout the play their relationship takes on many forms! At the begging of the play they both seemed happy and content, but upon hearing of Macbeths plot, lady Macbeth becomes power hungry and tries to claw at every bit she can get. She manipulates him to kill the king. As she does not yet have the status in their relationship to order him to kill the king. ‘When you durst do it, then you are a man’ shows her questioning his manly hood, this could affect how he sees himself and now feels he has to prove his strength as a man. 

At the Banquet scene Lady Macbeth is anxious Macbeth that her husbands lack of self control will make the Scottish lords suspicious. Macbeth has more control in the relationship, the dynamic has shifted as Macbeth rises in status. Their relationship isn’t as strong as there are constant quarrels back and forth between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. ‘My worthy lord, Your noble friends do lack you. I do forget-‘ fragmented sentences show her irrational behaviour. 

Toward the end of the play their relationship is a weak link! When Lady Macbeth dies Macbeth does not mourn. ‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day’ implies her death is inconvenient or it could suggest if she had died earlier he would have time to mourn her. ‘Out, out, brief candle’  the personification suggests her life was like a candle, it only lasts so long. Lady Macbeth dies off screen, this is unusual as it means she is an insignificant character. For a character that had a dominant role at the start. She became insignificant for Macbeth and Shakespeare. 

In act 5 scene 5 Shakespeare breaks the fourth wall, ‘Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing.’ Implies playwrights are idiots.it could also suggest that Macbeth now believes everything could be pointless!

So in conclusion Macbeth and Lady Macbeths relationship is like a rollercoaster, it had its highs and lows but also span round in circles. But it ended back where it started with Macbeth in control!