Friday, April 17, 2015

What relationships does Lady Macbeth have with other characters in "Macbeth"?

Although Lady Macbeth does not seem to have any overt relationships with other characters, she is deeply affected by the murders as evidenced by her breakdown.  Apparently, Lady Macbeth must have felt some affection for Banquo, King Duncan and Lady Macduff and her children, she goes mad with guilt thinking about them. Lady Macbeth says in Act V, Scene I

"The Thane of Fife had a wife:
where is she now? What! will these hands ne'er
be clean? No more o' that, my lord, no more
o' that: you mar all with this starting".

This obviously reflects her guilt, but if she didn't care at all, why would she be so remorseful, so troubled?  The murder of Lady Macduff and her children deeply troubles Lady Macbeth.  At the end of the play, it seems that Lady Macbeth cares more for the murder victims that she does her husband, with whom she had such a close relationship in the beginning

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