How Is Lady Macbeth At First Too Little Power Over Her Husband

“Lady Macbeth has at first too much & then too little power over her husband.” Do you agree?

I fully agree with the statement that Lady Macbeth had first too much and then too little power over her husband, Macbeth. This is very evident in the way Macbeth’s decisions in the first half of the play contrast with the decisions he makes in the second half. We as readers can tell that early in the play Macbeth was heavily influenced by Lady Macbeth and her overriding ambition whereas afterwards she starts to back away from the controlling roles and he starts to defy her and detach himself from her and her decisions.

When we first encounter Lady Macbeth, she is very clearly consumed by her ambition to gain further power, this is demonstrated to

This is the section of the play where we see Lady Macbeth and her husband's complex relationship dynamics, Macbeth is certainly showing more power in the way he begins committing acts without consulting his wife first. However, he still goes to her to seek comfort and approval afterwards, this shows his emotional dependence he still has on her. He officially severs the influence Lady Macbeth had on him by not letting her in on his plans to murder Banquo and Fleance. He tells her that she is better off not knowing “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest Chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.” and she is shocked by her husband's words. Macbeth’s tone has completely changed from before to now, his tone now is confident and full of control. This scene signifies the transition from when Lady Macbeth had the power to when her husband had the power. This is where Macbeth’s initial hesitation is demolished by his ambition to further carry out his evil plans. Lady Macbeth again asks him if he is a man, just like she does at the beginning of the play, however this time he replies with the strong words “Ay, and a bold one,” conveying the difference in the power balance. The wording Macbeth uses is very different now compared to the beginning of the play, this reversal is illuminated with how he goes from speaking

The early confidence and strength she had has now been replaced by overwhelming doubt and paranoia. She begins to not be able to think properly, saying things such as this hyperbole “Here’s the smell of the blood still”. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, Oh, Oh!”. This moment is very clearly different from the way she took immediate control at the beginning of the play. The vivid imagery described in this quote intensifies the feelings of guilt and remorse we get from Lady Macbeth. The way she repeats the word “oh” shows her distress and she is unable to control herself, therefore showing us that she has lost all the power she once had and that she cannot have redemption. In contrast to this, as Macbeth becomes increasingly independent and detached from Lady Macbeth, the words, “I have almost forgotten the taste of fear.” demonstrate how his ruthlessness is overflowing. It also tells us the character development both he and his wife have gone through, Macbeth’s humanity has transformed into overwhelming power. He becomes so caught up in his ambitions that when Lady Macbeth dies he barely reacts, his first words are “She should have died hereafter.” Showing the dismissive attitude he now has when it comes to Lady Macbeth and how truly detached he is. It also contrasts with his earlier emotions as this quote clearly displays to us how he is incapable of