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Similarities Between Macbeth & Lady Macbeth – Essay

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Similarities Between Macbeth & Lady Macbeth – Essay
Love was very important to the Shakespearean audience. There is not a play written by Shakespeare that does not contain some form of a love relationship. These plays usually end happily, however in the case of “Macbeth”, the relationship that carries this important function, that is love, is conveyed in a way most peculiar. Instead of the average “happily ever after” ending an audience would expect, Shakespeare offers the audience, a villainous duo. One would expect that their relationship is an average husband and wife relationship, but there are many similarities and differences in the relationship which makes it even more enjoyable for the audience to watch the course of it.
The relationship between Macbeth and his Lady comes into significance even before the play starts. One must imagine how close the couple were before we meet Lady Macbeth. The fact that Macbeth sends a letter in anticipation to his wife and does not consult with anyone else is solid proof of how Macbeth trusts his wife and visa-versa: “my dearest partner in greatness”. Lady Macbeth also trusts in her husband, but in a different way; she trusts him as long as he is under her control. This would be quiet unexpected in a relationship during the Middle Ages where men were always the dominant figure in any relationship.
From the first moment we meet Lady Macbeth we immediately notice how shred she is compared to Macbeth: “I fear thy nature is too full o’ the milk of human kindness”. This proves that Lady Macbeth is more brutal than her husband as she fears that “Bellona’s bridegroom” might be too kind; yet Macbeth trusts her whole heartily as he addresses her: “My dearest love”. Even though Macbeth sense that his wife is pushing him towards the murder of Duncan he is faithful to her and allows himself to be controlled by her: “Look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under’t”. This proves how strong Lady Macbeth’s personality is compared to her husband who is always hesitant.
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