Skip to main content

How are masculinity and femininity presented and explored in Shakespeare's Macbeth?

The audience has a chance to see the way the Macbeths' society conceived of masculinity and femininity in the interactions that take place between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  After Macbeth has decided not to go forward with the murder of Duncan in Act 1, scene 7, Lady Macbeth insults him, calling him "green and pale" and a "coward" (1.7.41, 1.7.47).  She claims that having made a promise to her, it shows weakness and a lack...

The audience has a chance to see the way the Macbeths' society conceived of masculinity and femininity in the interactions that take place between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.  After Macbeth has decided not to go forward with the murder of Duncan in Act 1, scene 7, Lady Macbeth insults him, calling him "green and pale" and a "coward" (1.7.41, 1.7.47).  She claims that having made a promise to her, it shows weakness and a lack of masculinity for him to break it.  He understands that she means to insult his manhood in this way because he says, "I dare do all that may become a man. / Who dares do more is none" (1.7.51-52).  In other words, he insists that he is really a man, despite what she's said.  Her implication, though, is that men should be strong and ruthless, that they should keep their promises no matter the danger, and that they be ambitious and willing to follow their ambition.


Near the end of this exchange, Macbeth tells his wife to "Bring forth men-children only, / For thy undaunted mettle should compose / Nothing but males" (1.7.83-85).  By this, we can understand that Lady Macbeth's recent behavior has been much more aligned with what is expected of men rather than women.  She has been domineering rather than submissive, ruthless rather than compassionate, insulting to him rather than comforting.  Lady Macbeth has manipulated her husband, and he knows it.  Women of their time are not supposed to behave in such a manner.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can you analyze the poem "Absolution" by Siegfried Sassoon?

Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and... Sure! Siegfried Sassoon fought in World War I and was wounded in battle; he spent much of his life speaking out against war, and these pacifist feelings are easy to see in his poems. This one, "Absolution," was published in 1917, the same year that Sassoon was hospitalized for what we know today as post-traumatic stress disorder. "Absolution" is a short poem that contains three stanzas of four lines each. The word "absolution" means "forgiveness," and the v...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more