In the two plays, Macbeth and Oedipus Rex, marriage is on of the important themes. The marriages in the plays play a major role in the lives of the characters. The husband and wife relationship play a big part in the decisions and deeds of the characters. Each character is lead to doing the things they did because of the influence or encouragement of their husband/wife. .
In Macbeth, there are two important marriages, the Macbeths and the Macduffs. In the beginning of the play, they are both in love have great ambition. In the marriage of the Macbeths, Macbeth may be the man of the house but Lady Macbeth decides all the actions and has power. Macbeth is a feeble man who is held in the yolk of his controlling wife. She is determined to push Macbeth into committing crime. She constantly doubts his masculinity. She thinks he is "too full of the milk of human kindness. " Lady Macbeth wants him to commit murder and when he is hesitant towards her idea, she says to him " When you durst do it, then you were a man; And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more than a man. " She says he would be more of a man when he does what he has to do to get on that throne. When she doubts his manhood, he is encouraged to prove her wrong and gives in to committing the murder. They become partners in crime. Lady Macbeth is the mind behind the crimes. As his wife, she wants to help him reach his full potential. After the first murder, their relationship changes as they both start keeping distance between them. Also, after the first murder, Macbeth became more confident about getting anyone who comes in his way out of his way. Because of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth is lead into a path of disaster. Murder is Macbeth's way of keeping his throne now. In the beginning of the play, they are both in love have great ambition. , Lady Macbeth starts off as the one with determination and power. After the murders, Macbeth rises in power in his marriage as well as becoming king.