Analysis Of ' Macbeth ' The Coward Of Cawdor '

A prominent and permeating theme in Macbeth is the roles and characteristics of masculinity and femininity. Throughout the play Shakespeare presents the audience with strong and sometimes conflicting views of these gender roles. What exactly defines being a man or a woman? How does an individual’s grasp of these roles effect their actions? Shakespeare shows that a clear and accurate understanding of the concept of masculinity is of critical importance in the success of a ruler. In particular, he illustrates how Macbeth’s acceptance of a perverted, violent view of masculinity leads his kingdom into chaos and turmoil, and leads Macbeth to his inevitable demise. Moral order can only be restored

Lady Macbeth embodies the ideals of masculinity because she manipulates her husband to kill the king Duncan so she and her husband can have all the power to be king and queen and to manipulate people so they can be by their side. For example the text states, ¨Marriage counseling to solve the issues of our relationship? What issues? Just kill Duncan so I can be Queen already’’(Shakespeare #). This quote shows that Lady Macbeth takes advantages of her husband because he only tell her his secrets to her, so that is when Lady Macbeth takes advantages of her husband and manipulates her husband to kill king Duncan so Lady Macbeth and Macbeth can been the next king and queen. Accordingly, at the beginning of the sentence, this evidences shows Lady Macbeth manipulates people by taking advantages of them. From my point of view Lady Macbeth manipulates people so she can be the next queen and she also takes advantages of people that trust her so that is when she gives them advice so they can do things that favor Lady Macbeth by being the next queen. For instance ¨Lady Macbeth outraged, calls him a coward and question his manhood, ¨´when you durst to do it,´ she says then ´you were a man´¨(Shakespeare #) .This quote shows that Lady Macbeth also manipulates her husband in many ways like making him think he is not man because he is scared to murder king Duncan and making him think a man is who doesn't have fear to do something that might have dangerous consequences, so then he decides to murder Duncan. In conclusion in “Macbeth “the

Masculinity can be defined in many way and is interpreted by many different people. Some characteristics of masculinity are bravery, courage, intelligence, and even some negative characteristics like arrogance. Throughout Act 1, Macbeth is talked about in a very high manner as can be seen as a marvelous war hero. The Captain even says, “For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name - Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked body execution, like valour's minion carved out his passage.” (1.2.15-19) This reveals how respected and highly Macbeth is seen after winning some major battles in the war. This is an example of Macbeth’s bravery because it illustrates a god like image of him crashing though the enemy lines destroying

Macbeth was also affected by Lady Macbeth when she questions his manhood in, “When you durst do it, then you were a man// Be so much the man.” For a male at the time, to be questioned of their masculinity was the ultimate insult, especially from a woman. This emotional blackmail device from Lady Macbeth clearly worked, because Lady Macbeth was able to take full control of Macbeth hereafter. In the same manner that Lady Macbeth goads her husband, Macbeth then provokes the murderers by questioning their manhood, “Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men”. Both of these acts show that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth equate masculinity with naked aggression, and whenever they converse about manhood, violence soon follows. Their understanding of manhood allows the political order depicted in the play to descend into chaos.

He falls pathetically in cowardice when faced with a real man, who he knows he is no match against, but also exclaims that he is feeling fired up and ready to take on MacDuff. Perhaps this is true for an individual like Macbeth who is so pathetic and confused. He has no consciousness of himself as he squanders his

While Lady Macbeth believes that men are superior when it comes to power and warfare, the effect that she has on Macbeth’s actions manages to change the outcome of the entire play. This speech illustrates a prominent power relation in the text - Lady Macbeth and the power that she has over her husband. While Macbeth is the one carrying out the deeds, Lady Macbeth, at least at the beginning of the play, is the brains behind the operation and manages to maintain a certain amount of control over him. “When you durst do it, then you were a man.” - Lady Macbeth. Being a man is something Macbeth cares about strongly, and Lady Macbeth manages to harness this desire of Macbeth’s to keep the power in their relationship. This speech is revealing because it manages to expose the inner workings of the relationship between the two

Lady Macbeth is convincing herself to kill King Duncan. “unsex me here...Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood"(1.5.48,50). Lady Macbeth’s misconstrued idea of what it means to be a man prevents Macbeth from truly comprehending what is important. While trying to fit into Lady Macbeth's ideal of manliness he himself becomes detached from reality and his emotions. Macbeth’s response to the witches prophecy coming true. “ I have almost forgotten the taste of fears”(5.5.11). He feels as though the mass of power he has collected has and will continue to protect him. He then hears of Lady Macbeth's suicide from her guilt.“She should have died hereafter”(5.5.17). This is quite significant because the correct response would be grief, but instead he feels nothing for someone he once loved further showing how the greed for power has corrupted him. The important thing he should have learned is loyalty should take precedence over want for power, or ambition doesn’t have to relate to cruelty. Macduff can be considered a foil to Macbeth; after his family dies “But I must also feel it as a man” (4.3.261). The idea given by Macduff is being a man doesn’t mean you are only cruel and don’t care about the consequences. It’s possible to feel feminine things and still be considered a man. It

In Act One, Scene Seven, Lady Macbeth attacks Macbeth’s pride in order to manipulate his decision. Macbeth doubts the choice to kill the King, but Lady Macbeth wants the power and the title for Macbeth and herself. She asks Macbeth, “Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteem’st the ornament of life and live a coward in thine own esteem,” (1.7). Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manliness, by asking if he is a coward or a noble king. No man wants to be called a coward by his female companion, or anyone else. In doing this, she mocks his fear of committing regicide, by calling his masculinity into question. Consequently, this affect’s Macbeth’s decision to kill King Duncan. Macbeth believes that men should be violent, cruel, brave, and unremorseful. This viewpoint has been instilled in him by people surrounding him such as his wife. His pride and masculinity were superior to any future punishment for this action. His myopic view prevents him from truly seeing the consequences to come of his decisions. The egotism of some men seems to take over their perspective of right and wrong. Males today do not want to be inferior to women, because they would seem weak.

Manhood and its definition is a major theme in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. On first appearance, Macbeth is characterized as a loyal and valiant thane in defense of the honor of Scotland and King Duncan. The brutality that he shows as a warrior on the battlefield is an acceptable and lauded trait. These attributes come into question as the witches introduce the prophecies tempting Macbeth’s vaulting ambition. After the regicide, Macbeth is damned and is no longer concerned with being honorable. He covets immediate gratification at all costs and by all means. However, this gratification is temporary due to that Macbeth later on, experiences guilt and regret which directs him towards his morbid fate and ultimate demise.

In between these scenes, we are thrust into the aftermath of a great battle, where the definition of manhood is clearly defined, and one man stands alone as the pinnacle of masculinity. The Captain declares: For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—

In Act 1, Shakespeare wrote Macbeth with admired masculine qualities countered with Lady Macbeth criticising his idiosyncrasies. Lady Macbeth’s definition of a man is disparate to others’. In Scene 2, the captain labels Macbeth as “brave”. This is a venerated and respected quality on the battlefield. King Duncan later refers to Macbeth as “valiant cousin”. These pronouncements show that an

In Act 1, Shakespeare wrote Macbeth with admired masculine qualities countered with Lady Macbeth criticising his idiosyncrasies. Lady Macbeth’s definition of masculinity is disparate to others’. In Scene 2, the captain labels Macbeth “brave”; a venerated quality

At the very beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is provoked by the letter she receives by Macbeth and starts plotting the murder of Duncan. She also wishes she were a man such that she could commit the murder all by herself saying so in Act 1 Scene 5, “Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty” (Macbeth 1.5.36-52). She appeals to these spirits to remove all aspects of her femininity and seeks to gain power through the prophecy of the witches. Her fear about the ability of her husband to commit the murder is subdued in her designated gender. Lady Macbeth manages her feminine power through her sensuality and pretended weakness through her fainting streak at the notice of Duncan’s death. Manipulation, usually through sexuality is often depicted as the source of women’s power still Lady Macbeth uses this power of hers to commit murder, a masculine demonstration of power. Lady Macbeth in her soliloquy about the planning of Duncan’s death refers to her husband as an individual who plays honestly and does not engage in wrongdoing.

Macbeth uses his solider like qualities to exemplify his masculinity. When the captain was explaining to Duncan about Macbeth the Captain says, “Yes, as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. … they were as cannons overcharged with double cracks, so they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe” (1.2.35-38). The Captain shows the bravery of Macbeth by comparing him to “cannons overcharged with double cracks,” which means they were as if cannons loaded with double ammunition. This comparison shows that the Caption thinks Macbeth

Macbeth tells himself to act like a man in the following lines: “Prithee, peace! / I dare do all that may become a man; / Who dares do more is none” (I, vii, 45-47). This quote by Macbeth shows how he wants to be a man by killing King Duncan, but he does not think this would be an act of righteousness. Macbeth is in a controversy with