Masculinity In Lady Macbeth's

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

To this day, Macbeth is William Shakespeare’s most violent and bloodiest play, which ends in tragedy. The play is set in Scotland during the 17th century. Macbeth, the main character of the play, is focused on becoming the King of Scotland by depicting himself as a powerful and brave man who executes anyone who minimalizes his chances of obtaining kingship. Masculinity is one of the largest themes that is displayed throughout the play. There are many characters in Macbeth that perceive masculinity as a means of power and portray the traits of bravery and courage; dominance; and violence. These characters try to encompass various manly traits to make themselves look powerful in society’s eye but eventually end up losing who they really are and sometimes their own lives as well.

Lady Macbeth challenges Macbeth’s masculinity by stating that Macbeth is not a man if he does not carry on the murder. Lady Macbeth demonstrates strong pathos because she targets Macbeth’s ego. This proves effectiveness because when a male’s ego is challenged his testosterone kicks in, so in Macbeth’s case, he feels obligated to assert his dominance over his wife. To further elaborate, when Lady Macbeth says “when you durst do it, then you were a man” she demonstrates subconscious, but powerful use of rhetoric because it is Lady

Alternative characters in the play contrast Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's twisted perception of a man by allowing their emotions and not giving in to traditional gender roles. When taking a look at masculinity in Macbeth, MacDuff’s is an aforementioned character. Shakespeare gives MacDuff phrases, which contrast the misguided ways of Macbeth and his Lady, and also show that there is hope in masculinity. It is obvious that MacDuff is Shakespeare's ideological adaptation of a real man. MacDuff knows himself and he performs his duties, as he knows he must and settles his feelings with the stability a man needs. As he is told to take the news of their murders “like a man.” He retorts, “I shall do so, / But I must also feel it as a man” (4.3.

Lady Macbeth understands Macbeth’s lust for the throne, and lusts for it herself. She also understands his ambition, but feels that her husband might regret and decide against killing Duncan to steal his throne, as she regards to Macbeth as “full o’ the milk of human kindness” (1.5.4). Since Lady Macbeth fears that Macbeth would turn against her and not go through with the plan, she decides that it must be up to her to get it done correctly. She asks that only the “direst cruelty” (1.5.33) fill her, as she gathers everything that is evil to her in order to murder Duncan. Even though Macbeth was hesitant over the idea of murdering Duncan, his wife convinces him that acting on his impulse of killing Duncan is the right thing to do. This shown when Macbeth starts to second guess the thought of murdering his king, and that it should not be done. However, his wife verbally harasses him into agreeing. Lady Macbeth questions his love for her, questions his masculinity, and criticizes his desire to be king by saying, “When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man” (1.5.49-51). As his successfully offends him, he decides that he needs to prove his manhood, his love of his wife, and his ambition to be king, he agrees to murder Duncan.

Historically, roles of men and women were established to ensure the power of the head of the household. In the early centuries, the head of the household was always male. Shakespeare reflects and at times supports the English Renaissance stereotypes of women and men and their various roles and responsibilities in society. In Macbeth, Shakespeare supports this idea by developing the constant theme of power through masculinity. The idealistic role of men in society goes along with the idea that significant power results in higher ranking in the social hierarchy of this time period.

“Macbeth,” a play by Shakespeare, uses Macbeth to question the traditional way of thinking about societal values through internal conflict about masculinity and man. In Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth says, “Prithee, peace:/ I dare do all that may become a man; / Who dares do more is none.”(1.7 50-53) This line, set in the context of the rigid gender roles and expectations of the Elizabethan age, depicts Macbeth's struggle to define masculinity. Macbeth's statement,,” I dare do all that may become a man,” embodies his commitment to societal standards—permitting the audience to see a clash between traditional and unconventional perspectives.

In ‘Macbeth’, masculinity is presented as a driving force to Macbeth’s crimes, making it a vital theme. The essay’s focus is masculinity’s presentation through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Primarily, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as “valiant”: a prized masculine quality which was respected in their society. However, this trait becomes warped along the play. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth yearns for masculinity but she fails to acquire it. Shakespeare thus displays masculinity in two different lights.

For example, when he is indecisive about the plans to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth labels him a coward. When Macbeth defends himself by explaining that he is doing all that can be expected of a man, she replies, "When you durst do it, then you were a man"(1.7.49). She claims that no real man would back down and refuse to follow through with an act he had agreed to, and that, if he does so, she, herself, would be considered more of a man than he. As Max Huhner points out in one of his essays, Lady Macbeth, like many of Shakespeare's other female characters, is presented as being "more vindictive, revengeful, spiteful, and mean. . .than any man would be"(87). She boasts of her own aggression as she states:

Although, after curating his plan to take King Duncan’s life, Macbeth finds himself unsure as to how to execute this scheme. As he begins to hesitate, Lady Macbeth intervenes and questions, “What beast wasn’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you first do it, then you are a man” (Shakespeare I.vii.56-58). Lady Macbeth does not fail to question Macbeth’s masculinity, to alter Macbeth’s perspective on this issue. She emotionally expresses her feelings by explaining how Macbeth is only a man if he ‘distorts it’, and kills King Duncan.

In ‘Macbeth’, masculinity is presented as a driving force to Macbeth’s crimes, making it a vital theme. The essay’s focus is masculinity’s presentation through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Primarily, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as “valiant”: a prized, respected masculine quality in their society. However, this trait becomes warped along the play. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth yearns for masculinity but she fails to acquire it. Shakespeare thus displays masculinity in two different lights.

In Macbeth, the conflict between manhood and femininity is very apparent. The differences between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are profound. Over the course of the play, Shakespeare skillfully changes the role of the two characters. Macbeth is frightened at the beginning and frightened at the end while Lady Macbeth is seeming confident and ends up frightened in the end. Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manhood many time throughout the play, making the conflict between their two personalities very apparent.

The conformity to gender roles that Macbeth and Lady follow leads to the destruction of their relationship. At the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is more masculine than Macbeth and holds the power in their relationship. Lady Macbeth is aware that she is the assertive one in their relationship and uses that to manipulate Macbeth. In act 1, scene 7, Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s masculinity saying, “When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And, to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man.”(54-56) in saying this, she is using Macbeth’s fragile masculinity against him because she knows Macbeth will prove his masculinity by killing Duncan. After they succeed and get away with the murder, Macbeth becomes more assertive and decisive. Macbeth begins to hide things from Lady Macbeth, like his plan to kill Banquo, this causes a strain on their relationship. In act 3, scene 2, lines 50 and 51, Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth, “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, / Till thou applaud the deed.” about his plan to kill Banquo because he doesn’t want her involved. This furthers the strain in their relationship because Macbeth thinks he, a man, should handle these kinds of things where Lady Macbeth, a woman, should not concern herself with such problems. Furthermore, by excluding Lady Macbeth he has pushed a wedge between them by keeping secrets from her, losing her trust and leading to the downfall of their relationship. Closer to the end of the play, Macbeth assumes his role as a hypermasculine man and becomes violent, killing any possible threat to him. In becoming king, Macbeth becomes obsessed with having power because of the lack of control he had in his relationship with his wife. To Macbeth Macduff appeared as a threat,

Macbeth uses his manhood to portray his solider like qualities, but Lady Macbeth’s masculinity manipulates Macbeth’s actions, however, in the end it is Macbeth who uses his masculinity to do heinous actions.

Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband into doing all that she wants to do, that she cannot do herself. When Lady Macbeth consults with Macbeth the witches prophecies she insinuates and awakens an evil ambitious side in him. This is very strange to see as in the beginning of the play (Act 1) Macbeth is the complete opposite. Lady Macbeth does this in such a devious way that she questions her husband 's masculinity. For instance; "What beasts wasn 't then,/ that made you break this enterprise to me?/ When you durst do it,/ then you were a man,/ And to be more than what you were,/ you would be so much more the man." (1.7.53-58). This strikes Macbeth as the unthinkable because as a woman in the Elizabethan Times (1603) Lady