A notable analysis published in The Economist by British journalist Owen Bennett-Jones highlights a long-standing historical narrative: the tendency to attribute the failures of powerful men to their manipulative wives, drawing a parallel with the infamous Shakespearean character, Lady Macbeth.
Bennett-Jones suggests that proponents of this narrative view Bushra Bibi, wife of the PTI founder, as fitting perfectly into this archetype—a figure alleged to have captivated a “national hero” and steered him according to her own aspirations.
The journalist extensively referenced Lady Macbeth, known in Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth for her consuming thirst for power and her ruthless persuasion of her husband to murder King Duncan and claim the throne. Lady Macbeth is presented as one of the most complex and tragic figures, whose arc is driven by extreme ambition and influence.
The report details how Lady Macbeth overcame her husband’s moral reluctance, pushing him towards cruelty by asserting that only by committing the heinous act would he prove himself a “true man.” A famous scene is cited where she advises him to appear “innocent and gentle on the outside, but inside, be cunning and dangerous like a snake.”
The analysis concludes by noting that Lady Macbeth’s destructive pursuit of power ultimately leads to her isolation, breakdown, and profound remorse. This foreign media commentary has thus framed the PTI founder’s marriage and style of governance as a topic for international critical assessment.
