Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are two characters in Shakespeare's play Macbeth who are married to each other and play a significant role in the play. Both characters are ambitious and desire power and status, but they differ in their approaches to achieving their goals.
Macbeth is initially depicted as a brave and honorable soldier who is loyal to the King of Scotland. However, he is easily swayed by the prophecies of the witches and the persuasion of his wife, Lady Macbeth. He becomes consumed by his ambition and desire for power, and eventually murders King Duncan in order to become the new King of Scotland. Despite his initial hesitation and guilt, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to his ambition and allows it to consume him.
Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, is initially portrayed as a strong-willed and ambitious woman who is not afraid to take matters into her own hands in order to achieve her goals. She is the driving force behind the murder of King Duncan, and she urges Macbeth to follow through with the plan. She is also more capable of hiding her guilt and emotions, and is able to manipulate her husband in order to get him to do what she wants.
However, as the play progresses, the roles of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth begin to reverse. While Macbeth initially gives in to his ambition and murders Duncan, he becomes increasingly guilt-ridden and paranoid as he tries to maintain his hold on the throne. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth's ambition and desire for power begin to wane, and she becomes more and more consumed by guilt and the psychological effects of the murder.
In the end, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth pay the price for their ambition and desire for power. Macbeth is eventually overthrown and killed, while Lady Macbeth is driven to madness and suicide. Their tragic endings serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of allowing ambition and desire for power to consume one's actions and decisions.
Overall, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are complex and multifaceted characters who are driven by their ambition and desire for power. While they initially seem to be united in their goals, their differing approaches to achieving them ultimately lead to their downfall.