Show how Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's relationship develops throughout the play.
From the very beginnings of the play, Lady Macbeth is viewed as very controlling, strong, and certain; saying that Macbeth 'Shalt be what thou art promised'. This shows Lady Macbeth's command, she is ordering Macbeth to become what the witches have foreseen, not questioning whether he will achieve it, or even not try. From the very start therefore we see just how powerful Lady Macbeth is, if she can command her husband to murder the king of Scotland. Her power is also shown in the way she taunts Macbeth, saying he is 'too full of the milk of human kindness'. This shows how cold Lady Macbeth is, as milk is the food of new born children, she is implying Macbeth is too much like a kind child to murder anyone, which is another method used to spur Macbeth on into killing his king. Her coldness and control is again shown when she begins to plot Duncan's murder with Macbeth, she says he should 'look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it', more advice for the killing of his king, and 'leave the rest to me' shows her cool control over the matter. Lady Macbeth also shows a more helpful side, offering help. 'I may pour my spirits in thine ear', which although seemingly providing a contrast to her cold hearted plotting earlier, is in fact another way in which she is convincing Macbeth to kill Duncan, her words are sweet to Macbeth's ear, but are in fact rooted in evil, and this perhaps shows an 'innocent flower' side to Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth however is on the other end of the scale in their relationship, and once he plucks up the courage to tell her he does not want to continue with the murder. But she rallies, calling him a 'coward', saying that if he could murder Duncan 'he were a man'. This to Macbeth, a proud and mighty warrior is a deep insult, and he soon is convinced that he will carry out the murder.
