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Essay on Macbeth Issues

Decent Essays

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, there are many issues that may have had an affect on the play. The complex marriage between the power hungry Macbeths, lady Macbeth’s dominant character directing Macbeth in the murders, the role reversal during the murders, Macbeth’s reaction to his wife’s death, and male and female marriages for authority. When analyzed these issues help describe the Macbeth’s relationship. They are the very issues that eventually lead to the “Great Tragedy”. The relationship of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is a complex one. Macbeth in the beginning does not come across to us as dominant. He more so looks to Lady Macbeth for comfort, assurance, and direction.”… Go get some water And wash your hand. Why did you bring these daggers …show more content…

“O, never shall sun that morrow see… Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye… Look like th’innocent flower But be the serpent under’t…” (Act 1, Scene 5) Lady Macbeth provides the assurance for Macbeth by telling him what and how to act. She also builds up his character by telling him that he will be a “greater man” if he were to go ahead with the murders. “…When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more the man than what you were, you would Be so much more the man”. (Act I, Scene 7) Everette states, “Married couples invariably, … grow like each other”. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth exchange qualities. Lady Macbeth becomes the way Macbeth was and Macbeth becomes the way Lady Macbeth was. “Then live, Macduff; what I need fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live…” (Act IV, Scene 1) There it is shown that Macbeth’s attitude changes, he begins to take on Lady Macbeth’s role during the beginning of the play as the person in charge. Everette also says, “…he starts to not need her anymore…” Lady Macbeth has made Macbeth into the “greater man” she wanted him to be and now he is no longer held back by his conscience or guilt. In the next act Lady Macbeth loses her mind. She is constantly washing her hands and says she can still smell the blood, “…Here’s the smell of blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. O, O, O ”!(Act

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