Act 3 is the last time since Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are seen together in this play until Lady Macbeth reappears in Act 5. This act marks a turning point in the play as both of the characters have their roles changed. Or rather…they have switched their roles and become opposites of what they were introduced as at the beginning to the audience. For instance, broadly, we remember that even though Macbeth called his wife “my dearest partner of greatness” in a male-dominated society of that era, Lady Macbeth held the upper hand in their relationship, and additionally, she was the one running the whole plan of killing King Duncan and gaining the throne (1.5.?). She was the brains behind the whole game plan, she was the more dominant one in a way. We also saw many different tactics she used in order to “manipulate” Macbeth into doing what she wants to do, which was a representation of the power she held in her relationship to Macbeth (there are previous blog posts dedicated to talking about and analyzing this topic in further depth). However, all this aside, when Macbeth is crowned King of Scotland after the killing of King Duncan, we see a shift in the behaviors of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth starts to show signs of having more power and Lady Macbeth is now shown as a little less strong-headed and blindly ambitious. In fact, we see these characteristics in Macbeth now, when he plans the killing of Banquo. For instance, when Macbeth trusts two random men to do the bad deed, he is showing blind ambition as he could easily be betrayed by them. And, if Macbeth eventually shows up as the third murderer, it shows his need to have a hand in everything and maintain his control. It shows that he likes the idea of power, the same power he was not ready to have before.
The first time we see the shift in power from Lady Macbeth to Macbeth is when Macbeth orders murderers to kill Banquo in order to secure this position on the throne (based on the prophecy of the weird sisters). If Banquo and his son Fleance are gone, he supposedly thinks that he and his throne are “safe.” However, in the midst of this, Lady Macbeth is not informed about the intentions of Macbeth for Banquo and his son’s future. She is kept in the dust, all innocent. Although, she does have her doubts and suspicions, as before the big banquet/feast, Macbeth sort of “teases” Lady Macbeth by saying “let your remembrance apply to Banquo; Present him eminence, both with eye and tongue” well knowing that Banquo won’t be making it to the party that night (3.2.32 – 33). This shows that now Macbeth is running things, that he has everything under control. That he is the boss here and does not find the need to inform anyone else of whatever he plans.
This also indicates that after being crowned king, Macbeth wants to use and feel the true power of being “king” and “superior” to everyone else. In a way, Macbeth wants to show his wife that he still remains manly so that he does not get accused again of being week and woman – like by his wife. It is also implied near the end of this act that Macbeth has more “dirty” plans brewing, which does not involve Lady Macbeth knowing what is essentially happening around her. Looking at their relationship however, we can still deduce that Macbeth and his Wife still have the same love for each other by the ways they approach each other.
Some more examples of Macbeth’s growing power above his life is how he is willing to keep committing crimes after one is done of killing the original King, and that too by his own choice. As Macbeth’s power grows as a King, in a way, he leaves his wife behind in terms of the “equality” that he claimed to have between them. It is as though Macbeth is not satisfied with what he has and is greedy for more power, constantly. An example of this is when Lady Macbeth says to him “naught’s had, all’s spent, Where our desire is got without content” (3.2.6 – 7). This situation is similar to the idea of one saying many lies in the process of maintaining a single one. A single murder, a single bad deed has completely transformed Macbeth’s character from who he was before. Someone scared of committing ethically and morally bad deeds, someone who was a genuine person. The old Macbeth only reappears sometimes through his remorse and guilt. We know Macbeth has more plans to secure his throne for the future, and we know they don’t involve being honest and righteous. This is further reinforced when Macbeth says to his wife, ” We have scorched the snake, not killed it. She’ll close and be herself whilst our poor malice Remains in danger of her former tooth” (3.2. 15 – 17). Macbeth himself admits to his wife that “Things bad begun make strong themselves by ill” (3.2.57). He asks his wife not to question about Banquo’s murder planning and says instead “be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the deed” (3.2.46 – 47). Once again, stripping his wife of the power she held over him and all other situations previously. This is also further proof of Macbeth never being satisfied with whatever he earns – – the idea of being blindly ambitious like Lady Macbeth was reappearing.