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.

Popular posts from this blog

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...

How did the United States become an imperial power?

"Imperial power" is a bit of a vague label. It tends to mean several things at once, so let's unpack it. In the sense of "this country was built on conquest by force," the "imperial power" part of America actually predates the United States proper. The territories that would become the United States were imperial colonies, established by the great European empires of the 17th and 18th centuries. Much of the US Constitution and American governance generally goes back to England, history's largest and most successful imperial power, but vital aspects of American culture come from other imperial powers, such as France and Spain. Much of American culture comes from sources other than the old empires, but they were key influences on what the United States became. In the sense of "this country treats conquest by force as a fundamental component of its culture, economy and politics," the United States has always been an imperial power. Even earl...

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...