Most of the drama in William Shakespeare's Macbeth is based on murder. Throughout the show, much of the dialogue and action has to do with a murder plot, committing a terrible act, or being haunted by guilt for taking another person's life. With this ever-present bloody violence, it is not surprising that the question of intimacy in Macbeth's kingdom is not often considered. Intimacy is, however, an important force in the play as its presence and absence shapes not only the relationship between Macbeth and his wife, but also the final direction of the plot. The key to both the plot movements and the Macbeths' relationship, regardless of the twisted and manipulative turns it takes, is the intimacy and closeness between the two. It is their devoted relationship that keeps them together despite the anxiety over their murderous actions and political power plays. Ultimately, their loss of closeness and mutual trust signals the unraveling of their rise to power and their imminent fall. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The initial relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is characterized by close affection and deep mutual understanding. This is seen in their interactions with each other early in the game. The first time an exchange occurs between the couple, it comes in the form of a letter written by Macbeth to his wife. Upon learning of his new title, Macbeth immediately communicates the information to his wife in a note, concluding the letter with the following: "I have seen fit to deliver you, my dear companion in greatness, that you may not lose your debts of rejoicing in ignorance of the greatness that is promised to you” (Iv8-11).Macbeth's choice to immediately update his wife on the news before even returning home demonstrates his wife's position as a trusted confidante sharing whatever glory he may gain with Lady Macbeth, showing that he cares deeply for his wife and is truly devoted to her. It also emphasizes the altruistic point that the greatness they are about to possess is promised not only to him, but to both "partners". . Lady Macbeth's intimacy with her husband manifests itself in a different way, namely her intimate knowledge of Macbeth's personality. Upon receiving the news of his promotion to Thane of Cawdor, Lady Macbeth immediately begins to deeply consider his character. Husband. He says, “You would be great; / Art not without ambition, but without / Illness should accompany it. What you would like highly, / That you would like holy” (Iv16-19). Here, Lady Macbeth demonstrates a deep understanding of not only her husband's desires, but also his morals and everything he is willing to do to achieve an end. He recognizes in the man a kindness not suited to the hard game of political advancement and therefore decides to help him in his rise to power by pouring out his "spirits in your ear" (Iv24). Although Lady Macbeth's intimacy is shown in a less direct way, both she and Macbeth possess an intimately close relationship with each other. As the play progresses, deeper and more complex elements of the Macbeths' relationship come to light. As the pair delves further into the plot, a certain dynamic develops that continues for quite some time throughout the show. Lady Macbeth has taken the lead and devised a plan in which Macbeth will secretly kill Duncan, bringing him closer to being crowned king. When Macbeth expresses doubts about the murder of his king (who has just honored him anyway), Lady Macbeth uses persuasion and manipulation to try to convince her husband to bringforward with the plan. He compares his former determination to the drunken hope that is now drunk and "green and pale." He goes on to say that “From this moment / Such I consider your love” (I.vii.37-39). After using her love as a manipulative tool, she asks if Macbeth "would live a coward in your own esteem" (I.vii.42). His strategic tirade seems to partially convince Macbeth as he goes from stating that he will not kill his king to the idea, wondering what would happen if they failed. Her dominion fully asserted, Lady Macbeth responds: "But screw your courage to the critical point, / And we will not fail" (I.vii.61). Macbeth then asks for the details of the plan, seemingly convinced and determined to carry out his wife's idea. This negotiation illuminates a darker side of intimacy between the couple in which Lady Macbeth uses rhetoric and guilt to manipulate her husband into doing what she believes is most beneficial to both of them. This setup, however, is not a one-way practice of coercion as Macbeth seems to need his wife's strong hand to enforce his more shameful ideas (such as murder for political gain). At this point in the play, the two have developed an emotionally symbiotic relationship in which they both know that Macbeth needs his wife's controlling words to strengthen his thoughts and quell his fears. As the death toll rises, an inconsistency in the Macbeths' previously intimate relationship spells doom for the couple. Their practice of total trust and sharing the details of their lives ends here and the unraveling of their destiny begins. When Macbeth becomes wary of Banquo and the Weird Sisters' prophecy that his children will become kings, he plots to have the man and his son Fleance killed. Macbeth chooses to hide this plan from his wife when the two speak in private. Macbeth says this to his erstwhile confidant: “Be innocent of knowledge, dearest Chuck, / Till you applaud the deed /…You wonder at my words; but hold fast” (III.ii.45-54). He tells his wife not to worry about what he has in store but to wait for it to happen. This marks the first time in the play that Macbeth withholds any information from Lady Macbeth, demonstrated in part by her surprised expression which Macbeth comments on. In past situations, Macbeth not only talked about every detail and problems with Lady Macbeth, but also used his wife as a sort of guide through that bloody chaos, someone to calm his fears and reaffirm his actions. The fact that this type of intimacy is no longer a cornerstone of the Macbeths' relationship coincides with further ruptures in the established dynamic of the two. During a dinner where most of the nobles are gathered, Macbeth has an attack in which he sees the ghost of Banquo sitting at the table with them. Lady Macbeth takes on the role of the one who rejects her husband's fears, saying: “This is the very painting of your fear: / This is the dagger drawn from the air that you said / Brought you to Duncan. Oh, these defects and these beginnings, / Imposters of true fear” (III.iv.61-64). Her power over her husband seems to have lost its potency at this point as Macbeth continues to be hysterical in front of his guests. Yelling at the ghost to leave him alone, Macbeth cries, “Avaunt! and close your sight! Let the earth hide you!” (III.iv.93). Macbeth appears to be too affected by the murders he has caused for Lady Macbeth's previous ability to calm her husband's fears to work. Their closeness has been sacrificed, and their lack of intimacy begins to manifest itself in distinct ways, such as Lady Macbeth's inability to contain her husband's breakdown. Further proof of the rift in theirs.