A Great Portrait With an Opportunity Missed

I chose the attached image from the Shakespeare library provided. 

 I think this image portrays the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth perfectly.  As we’ve seen from the play, Macbeth shows signs of absolute hesitation while trying to convince himself to kill Duncan.  He accomplishes the task thanks to the persuasion power and determination of his wife.  Before the happening and right after, Macbeth almost loses his masculinity and Lady Macbeth makes up for him in that department well.

In the picture, the first thing noticed is Lady Macbeth’s masculine and controlling attitude.  She almost drags Macbeth to somewhere, since Macbeth is not on his solid feet.  Looking at Lady Macbeth’s rights hand, it seems there is blood leaking, giving us the hint that the portray belongs after the time deed is committed.  This means that Macbeth is so very scared that he needs assisting at the time.  We also see from his face that he is terrified. 

This is an accurate portrayal since we know that 

1. Lady Macbeth chose not to be a woman and is much more masculine from that time on as she is over here.
2. Macbeth is dazzled by the conflict happening in his mind, he also feels some sort of regret.  “Still I cried, “Sleep no more!” to all the house.  “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more.  Macbeth shall sleep no more”” (Act 2 scene 2, Line 39).
3. He forgets the to leave the blades in the crime scene and he choses not to go back. “I’ll go no more: I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on’t again I dare not” (Act 2 scene 2, Line 51). 

One thing I found not that accurate was how the painter chose not to exaggerate on the blood remaining on Macbeth’s hands; as it is one of the things Macbeth finds very dazzling.  Especially when where are lines like “My hands are of your color, but I shame to wear a heart so white” ( Act 2 scene 2, Line 64).  This is an opportunity missed in my opinion.  

There are also little details in the picture which provoke us to look different to all these events happened in the book.  The one I was really interested in was the crown chair in the background.  I think that chair was put where for a reason.  It symbolizes to be the king, obviously, and Macbeth is not only frightened that he committed the deed, but also that he will become the king of a very unhappy country.  I really like this portray because not only it represent the relationship between Lady M and M, but it also adds a new point of view to all these events.