Spousal Relationships in Macbeth and Oedipus the King Essay

In Macbeth, by William Shakesphere, and Oedipus the King by Sophocles, the spousal relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and Oedipus and Jocasta, play a major role in the events that lead to the tragedy. Their love, respect, and determination for each other reveal the nature of the relationship shared by them. In Macbeth, the bond between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is strong. For instance, when he first hears the prophecy from the three weird sisters, he immediately writes to Lady Macbeth informing her about the prophecies. Further, he addresses her as â€Å"my dearest partner of greatness,† which gives the reader several views on their relationship. For instance, George Gerwig reports that â€Å"Lady Macbeth is the source of his mental†¦show more content†¦Finally, the strength of their bond can be seen when Macbeth becomes despondent at the news of Lady Macbeth death. He feels that he has lost all hopes since he had undergone all those evil deeds just for her. Just as the bond between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is strong, so does the bond between Oedipus and Jocasta in Oedipus the King. Oedipus has excessive pride in him and is known for his swift actions. It is Jocasta who tries to stop him from jumping into decisions without thinking about the outcome. For instance, when Oedipus accuses Creon and Tiresias for treachery, Jocasta tries to reason out with Oedipus. She tells him to not to believe in prophecies as they are not true. She narrates to Oedipus the tale of the prophecy of her son that he would one day kill his own father (Laius). She further tells him that the prophecy never came true because her son was killed when he was a child and that Laius was killed by a group of thieves. Similarly, when she comes to know part of the truth of Oedipus birth, she requests him to stop his search for the truth. She fears that his search for the truth about his birth and parents, would lead to his own destruction. This shows that