William Shakespeare 's Macbeth, The Presence Of Murder, Manhood, And The Value Of Interpersonal Relationships

Lady Macbeth is presented throughout the play as a character of domineering presence, troubled by the struggles she faces to fulfil her ambitions and those of her husband 's. Her first appearance on stage occurs in the aftermath of the audience witnessing the Witches’ Prophecies, as well as seeing battles being won by Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is portrayed throughout the first Act as a woman with authority over her husband. Yet, as she becomes neglected by Macbeth, Shakespeare uses various techniques to portray this withering of her prowess.

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.

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.

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

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.

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, one character has always baffled the audience on who he really is—Macbeth. He appears strong to the world, but that is just a wall. Hidden behind that wall is his true cowardness. And both his strength, and weakness can be seen throughout the play. But what does make someone strong or weak? Does the definition of weak fit for Macbeth? It easily does fit Macbeth. He is a coward, morally, mentally, and physically weak.

The Tragedy of Macbeth shows several different forms of relationships ranging in different levels of commitment, trust and understanding. Whether it be Macbeth and the Witches having an informational/friendly relationship that ultimately ended in many murders or Macbeth and Lady Macbeth having not only a family relationship but a political and even criminal relationship that resulted in too much power and greed. Relationships like these formed the plot of this play and make it interesting. Relationships are formed in so many levels and outsides easily can change the views of these relationships causing those involved to change their beliefs and opinions of others because the other relationships take more of a precedence than the original.

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.

The four texts that I have studied all show an imbalance of power in the main character’s relationships. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth we see Macbeth being manipulated by Lady Macbeth, he has stopped making his own decisions and just obeys Lady Macbeth’s wishes. In my three other texts; Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House and two Katherine Mansfield short stories, Frau Brechenmacher Attends a Wedding and New Dresses, we see the wives being dominated by their husbands and being treated more like an accessory rather than a partner. In all these texts the social norm was for woman to be mothers and be at home, though society has changed its laws for woman’s rights has society really changed what we view woman’s roles to be.

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.

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.

One of the most important traits of an epic villain is the malevolence that the character displays. Malevolence drives the villain to commit the evil acts throughout his or her story, and is a major part of what makes a villain epic. Malevolence allows the adversary to break moral codes and accomplish their ultimate goal. The characters of Macbeth, from the classic shakespeare play Macbeth, and Mr. Glass from M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable are two very malevolent characters. Macbeth is a tyrant king, driven mad by his peers and forced to commit murderous acts and immoral deeds in a medieval scotland. Mr. Glass is a crippled mastermind guided by one concept that drives him to commit terrorist attacks and other villainous acts.

‘What is so tragic is the spectacle of a man who could have been a great human being but who loses most of his humanity and greatness by the end of the play.’ Write about the way this theme is developed in Macbeth.

The identical language of Macbeth and his wife demonstrates that all humans are capable of compassion; therefore, one cannot categorize an individual as entirely bad. The start of the play introduces Macbeth as a hero when the king promotes him to the position of Thane. This establishes him as a stereotypical good guy, as he displays qualities of bravery and loyalty. Even once Lady Macbeth has bullied him into murdering his king so that he may inherit the throne, Macbeth clings to his decency. He vocalizes his overwhelming feelings of guilt as he laments,

Duncan is the most unlikely character to be killed because of his personality, but his title as King of Scotland, causes for Macbeth to loathe Duncan. In the play there is very little interaction between Macbeth and Duncan, showing the little time in which Macbeth gets more power. Prior to the witches’ prophecies Macbeth is loyal to Duncan, and would never imagine killing him. After the one of the witches’ prophecies comes to be true, the thought of killing Duncan, Macbeth "yield[s] to that suggestion / whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / and make my seated heart knock at my ribs" (1.3.146-148). Partly because of Lady Macbeth’s suggestion his "vaulting ambition" is starting to take over, and he begins to take into consideration killing