Dynamic Relationship Between Macbeth and Lady MacbethAn important factor in Shakespeare's tragic play, Macbeth is the changing relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth throughout the play. At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is the dominant character in the relationship. As the play progresses, the roles seem to reverse and Macbeth becomes the more dominant of the two. We can gain insight into how the relationship is evolving by looking at the couple's interaction. The first time in the play where we can reference their relationship and their individual personalities within the relationship is in Act 1, Scene 5, where we first meet Lady Macbeth. She is seen alone reading aloud a letter that Macbeth wrote to her. He tells her about the witches' visit. The letter told how the strange sisters had come to him and Banquo on their way home after the battle and how they had also given him the impression that they could read his thoughts and how they tormented him with riddles. They showed him that they had the power of prophecy and said that he would become the Thane of Cawdor and then the king. They made him believe that his greatest prize, being king, was near and Macbeth, who already felt the desire to be king, willingly listened to the witches. Lady Macbeth desperately wanted to become queen and when the king made Macbeth Thane of Cawdor, they thought the strange sisters must be right and he would become king. When the question was vaguely raised of killing Duncan to gain the throne, Lady Macbeth worked on the idea and to her it seemed like a good idea. Lady Macbeth then tried to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan even though he clearly did not want to. ...... middle of paper ......86.Hugget, Richard. Supernatural on stage: The curse of Macbeth: its origins, context and history. New York: Taplinger Publishing Co, 1975. 153-211. Lewis, William Dodge. Shakespeare said it. Syracuse: Syracuse University, 1961. Quincey, essay by Thomas De Harris, Laurie Lanzen and Scott, Mark W. ed. “The Tragedy of Macbeth”. Shakespearean Criticism, Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1986. Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth. Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992. Traversi, DA essay by Harris, Laurie Lanzen and Scott, Mark W. ed. “The Tragedy of Macbeth”. Shakespearean Criticism, Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1986. Wells, Stanley and Taylor Gary. ed. The Oxford Shakespeare, The Complete Works: Macbeth. By William Shakespeare. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1988. 975-999.