The disintegration in Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's relationship often mirrors the state of Scotland. At the beginning of the play, the relationship is strong, trustworthy and stable. Scotland battled the Norwegians and come out victorious which in turn created order and stability. The gradual changes in the relationship are highlighted by key events, circling around power and this then amount to leaving the relationship, and Scotland, in ruins. As the downfall reaches it's end one of Shakespeare's greater themes become more obvious. By demonstrating the downfall of the relationship and enhancing this through the mirroring of Scotland's fall Shakespeare shows the tragic fall of a hero.
As mentioned, Lady Macbeth and her husbands' relationship begins as a trusting and intimate one. In the first act, the entrance of Lady Macbeth is shown as she reads a letter from her husband. It is in the letter that the trust in the relationship is evident, Macbeth refers to her first and calls her his "dearest partner".
Lady Macbeth by George Cattermole.
The sleepwalking Lady Macbeth
Sarah Siddons in the Sleepwalking SceneUnited by love and trust Lady Macbeth and her husband are able to stand strong together. Scotland too is united with order after the victory. By setting the relationship up in such high conditions allows for the great downfall to take place. The idea of a tragic hero is opened through the relationship as it shows how loving and trusting Macbeth, as a husband, can be.
The relationship takes a turn when Lady Macbeth begins to dominate the relationship. Before this, they were equal and united, now Macbeth needs her to convince him and make his mind up. Lady Macbeth degrades her husband by attack his weakness and saying he is no longer a man. This attack shows that the relationship is faulting early. The control of Lady Macbeth over Macbeth mirrors Scotland as during...