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The play Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare. It was set in Scotland in the 1600 s. The main theme of the play is that Macbeth, has been changed by the appearance of three witches. The three witches tell Macbeth that he will be king one day. Macbeth gradually becomes obsessed with this prophecy.
This thirst for power leads Macbeth to kill his king, his best friend, Banquo and countless other Scottish Thanes and their wives and children. Macbeth does all of this in a bid to keep the crown of Scotland on his head. Lady Macbeth's role in this traumatic tale was to constantly convince Macbeth that everything would be fine, and that they had chosen the right paths. Many times throughout the journey Macbeth wanted to stop, but Lady Macbeth convinced him otherwise. Through this journey their close relationship crumbles. A key scene which shows how much the couple loved each other was Act 1 scene 5 Macbeth has written Lady Macbeth a letter telling her how much he loved and cared for her.
Macbeth trusted his wifes judgment, and took her advice, every step of the way. All along she is planning the death of Duncan. Fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty. Lady Macbeth wants to be filled with cruelty so she can fulfil this awful deed. But all this time, she is aware of what she is doing, but convincing Macbeth that this is the best plan. Yet, Macbeth still refers to her as My dearest love.
Macbeth is soon aware of the situation, but decides to continue. Your hand, your tongue; look like th innocent flower, But be the serpent under. In act 1 scene 7 Macbeth has his own soliloquy, when he reveals that he is actually quite scared. Macbeth has doubts about killing the king, but his ambition for power overrules his doubt, Macbeth is clearly afraid.
But when Lady Macbeth enters, everything changes, she is quick to reassure and changes Macbeth's mind. She is very good at persuading him to change his mind. At this point in the tragedy they are still very close, they are bound to each other in a deadly conspiracy, and an obsession of power. The imagery of blood in Act 2 scene 2 bound the couple together. This was probably not love, but the fact that they are both guilty. Lady Macbeth has just recently woken up and tried to wash the blood from her hands.
This is a sign that she is finding it hard to cope with the guilt. This was possibly the beginning of the break down in their relationship, this awful secret seems to be pulling them apart and causing them grief. In act 3 scene 1 - 3 there is a large change in their relationship. Lady Macbeth barely talks in the scenes, and finds it hard to find a spare moment for Macbeth to talk to her for a few words. Macbeth is now the one in charge of the plans to kill Fleance and Banquo. Lady Macbeth now has no part in the murders at all.
Macbeth has chosen not to involve her here. Till supper-time alone, Macbeth's plan to kill Banquo went well, but Fleance escaped, leaving Macbeth very worried. Both of you know Banquo was your enemy. Another key scene is Act 3, Scene 4 the relationship becomes very strained, and Macbeth starts to go insane with guilt.
First of all he sees the ghost of Banquo whom he has killed. Lady Macbeth tells him to pull himself together Lady Macbeth is becoming weak, and is no longer over powering Macbeth, she unable to tell him what to do. The couple have gradually over time, become very distant. They no longer bond, or confide in each other. This is all due to guilt, and trauma they have brought on themselves. Nearer to the end of play, Lady Macbeth sleep walks, this shows how alone she is.
She can no longer confide in her husband, and the guilt has driven her insane. Again the reference to blood is having an effect on their relationship, and all of this is driving them further and further apart. Macbeth's reaction to his wifes death is shock. They have been driven so far apart that he was unaware if how she was feeling. The couple have completely changed from the couple we first met.
They were once madly in love, and now Macbeth had lost his dearest partner. All he had left was his crown, which wasnt going to be his for long. For the overall view of the play, it becomes clear to the reader that the obsession with power has pulled this marriage apart. Vaulting ambition. Now a days there is a lot more divorces and separations, failures. But nothing is quite as drastic as murder.
Macbeth creates a great picture of pain and loneliness in the community, and this is all due to murder, and ambition for power.
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