Examples Of Femininity In Lady Macbeth

Firstly, Lady Macbeth is defiant to her role as a woman because she is able to take initiative, deceive others, and commit violent acts. To begin with, more than often times, husbands are controlling and lead their wives to complete certain tasks they have in hand; however through multiple occasions in Macbeth Lady Macbeth takes initiative over her husband:

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.

In play Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most dominant and frightening female characters, known for her ambitious nature. As Macbeth’s wife, her role is significant in his rise and fall from royalty. During Shakespearean times, women were regarded as weak insignificant beings that were there to give birth and look beautiful. They were not thought to be as intelligent or equal to men. Though in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is the highest influence in Macbeth’s life. Her role was so large; in fact, that she uses her position to gain power, stay strong enough to support her unstable Lord, and fails miserably while their

Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ is a character who suffers greatly in because of her human weakness, which is her vaulting ambition. This ambition is not for her, but for her husband. This woman, who seemed so in control at the beginning of the okay, only cared for her husband and his success, later becomes so consumed with guilt and remorse that it results in her tragic death. Through the discussion of characterisation and lkey scenes, I shall reveal that Lady Macbeth’s human flaw is  not only a major contributor to the ruthlessness of her husband but creates a huge influence in how the play unfolds.

By the end of the play, it is notable how hyper masculinity deteriorates the main characters of the play. The characters of Macbeth inhabit a world of darkness and uncertainty as hyper-masculine ideologies are introduced to them. As one reads throughout the play, it’s easy to pick up on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's excellent job at portraying the personification of humanity’s identity crisis with gender. Without proper gender roles, humanity begins to deteriorate, so the struggle that takes place in this play is of significant concern. With the creation of the Macbeths, Shakespeare diminishes everything that what was considered to be human nature. Macbeth becomes unstable because he cannot please such an unsatisfied woman, so he feels the need to take on an artificial hyper-masculine role but because of this is too torn to

When one thinks of the words ‘womanhood’ or ‘femininity’, one thinks of gentle, pretty objects. Images that are usually associated with these words are dresses, makeup, housewives, cooking, cleaning, heels, painted nails, skinny, weak, jewelry, etc. Society deems these images as feminine. Although these are the typical stereotypes of being feminine or a woman, most women do not fit these stereotypes. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth fits the stereotype and breaks the stereotype at different points in the play.

We see her as a suppressed female clawing to power through men. The most notable scene where Shakespeare conveys this is Act 1 Scene 5. He has Lady Macbeth say, “unsex me here”, demanding elimination of all womanly attributes. She also says, “take my milk for gall”. This demonstrates she does not want to be a nurturing, mother figure. Lady Macbeth thinks her femininity is useless and that she could accomplish more as a male. In the Elizabethan/Jacobean era, women were often subjugated – made to submit to and follow men, regarded as weak and in need of protection. Given no control, women were forced to stay home and bear children. Lady Macbeth yearns liberation from these stereotypes and ideal standards of her time. Her authority cravings lead her to tell Macbeth, “Leave all the rest to me” – seeking dominance. Her husband is essential to succeed so she can be interpreted as somewhat manipulating him into committing larger crimes – namely

William Shakespeare's Macbeth has been a theatrical favorite since Elizabethan times. Its timeless themes of ambition, fate, violence, and insanity collaborate to produce a captivating plot. The audience traces the disintegration of a tragic hero and his willful wife. Lady Macbeth, one of Shakespeare's most forcefully drawn female characters, plays an important role in the play Macbeth. She has a profound influence over the action of the play, and her character accentuates many of the themes. It seems evident that Lady Macbeth is motivated by repressed emotional complexes which lead to her insanity.

In this instance, Lady Macbeth has been pushed into conforming to contemporary societal view of a woman as she is being consumed by fear. As a matter of fact, Malcolm later states that she committed suicide (Shakespeare 5.8.2560-61), and while it is unlikely that he can know this for certain, this action correlates with her unstable state the audience last sees her in. Her rejection of characteristics normal for a woman of Shakespeare’s time, compounded by her fears inability to fully achieve the emotional distance she wanted has led to her mental undoing and loss of agency. She becomes the emotionally driven, conscience-weighed person she did not want to be in the beginning of the play, and led by fear of her weakness and of the deeds she and her husband perpetrated, completely loses her ability to rationalize, plan, and stay

There was no other Shakespearean character that has embodied the true spirit of evil and ruthless determination as Lady Macbeth. A story shadowed by supernatural events filled with images of selfish violence and innocent blood, all ignited by a character that is like an apparition appearing only to mold the plot and disappear once devastation occurs. Once Lady Macbeth receives the new of the prophecy she is immediately consumed with the idea of Macbeth becoming king and how to kill the obstacle in her way. In her mind there is room or possibility of failure.

She uses her manipulative ways to gain power and unfortunately uses this power for evil. The minute she hears the word that her husband will one day become king, and she becomes queen, she unmasks her true colours. When she receives the letter with the news, she says “Come, you spirits that tend on immortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty” (1.5.47-50). Lady Macbeth portrays how she is willing and wanting to give up her femininity and become a man, all for the sake of the plot against King Duncan. She believes that she may join in the assassination of Duncan and become queen.

In Macbeth, Shakespeare suggests that women must lose their feminine qualities to survive in a male dominated world. Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare does not depict his female characters as traditionally submissive to their male dictated atmosphere. Instead, these female characters are considered as strong and well respected throughout the play. Lady Macbeth dominates her relationship with her husband, Lady Macduff is strong and unforgiving against her husband, and the witches reject traditional femininity through their demeanor and appearance. Lady Macbeth, Lady Macduff, and the witches all recognize that they live a man’s world, and have somewhat naturally adapted so that they can succeed in this society.

During Shakespeare’s time, women were known as delicate little creatures that were there to give birth and look pretty. They were not thought to be smart or equal to men. Though in Shakespeare’s play Lady Macbeth serves as the main influence in Macbeth’s life. He trusts her with everything he has. Like he said in Act 1, she is his dearest partner of greatness.

The character of Lady Macbeth has been source of many a different debate, be it about its importance in the play, about its comparison to the rest of Shakespeare’s female characters or even about the relevance in psychological analysis and literary criticism. These many issues are all centred on the very same character that helps develop the plot of the play, even if always behind the curtains.