How does the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth change throughout the play?
In the early stages of the play, the Macbeths seem to be a devoted couple. Their love and concern for each other remains strong and constant throughout the play, but their relationship changes dramatically following the ruthless killing of King Duncan in Act II.
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth and his lady are very close, this is supported by how he referred to her in his letter as “my dearest partner of greatness” when he informed her about the weird sisters prophecies.
They share everything; she is like his best friend and his greatest confidant. It is evident that Lady Macbeth plays the more superior, more dominant role of the two. She lays all …show more content…

Now that fire has gone and she longs for peace to return to their lives. Macbeth and his wife have now become withdrawn from each other and are lacking intimacy.
In Act III Scene IV, where Macbeth is visited by the ghost of Banquo, it is clear to the audience that the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth has drawn to an end. Now, severely chastened by the realization that they have likely ruined all possibilities of happiness in their lives, Lady Macbeth sits quietly apart from her husband at the moment when she ought to be celebrating. Whereas once she welcomed Duncan easily into her castle and was commended in turn for her magnificent role as hostess, here she seems subdued and detached from the party. She is seen to be taking on the role of Macbeth’s babysitter, reassuring the guests as Macbeth baffles them with his ranting at the empty space at the table which turns out to be the ghost of Banquo himself. Lady Macbeth tells the guests: ‘Sit, worthy friends, my lord is often thus, / And hath been from his youth.’ But Macbeth’s fear is not so easy to dispel. As long as he can see the ghost, Lady Macbeth can do very little to control his behavior. Only when the ghost has disappeared can she effectively manage Macbeth’s actions, reminding him quickly of his need to behave normally and engage with the guests. When Macbeth starts to see the ghost for a second time, Lady Macbeth realizes that the situation is