High in Affection and Ambition Harold Bloom says the Macbeth relationship is the “best marriage in Shakespeare” at the beginning of the play, equal in love and ambition. They are famous for their love: Duncan calls Machete’s affection “sharp as his spur,” while Macbeth calls his wife “dearest partner of greatness” and “dearest love. ” They are equally close In ambition: her first words include “he that’s coming must be provided for,” and his letter speaks of “what greatness Is promised thee. Dunce’s murder Is a mutual fort. Equality Breaks Down Having characterized their relationship as equal, Shakespeare now breaks down the equality: Macbeth, once crowned, rises In power as his wife descends In Importance. All marital affection Is lost. She laments that “naughty’s had, all’s spent when our desire Is got without content. ” Meanwhile, he plans the murder of Banquet and, unlike the killing of Duncan, leaves her outside the plot: “Be Innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck. His change from “dearest love” to “dearest chuck” indicates loss of emotional bonding and equality; after their disastrous royal banquet, she calls him “sir”.
Their marriage’s high affection and ambition has fallen to nihilism and unfelt death-throes. Relationship as Paradox Marjorie Gerber characterizes the Macbeth’ relationship as paradoxical: madly in love, they are childless. Eager for each other’s advancement, their mutual ambition destroys them. Partners in crime, they die apart. Once physically separated, they are mentally and emotionally deserted; no fond absence here. Gerber and Shakespeare thus seem to agree: the best description for the Macbeth is “fallen to disastrous inequality”
