Examples Of Femininity In Macbeth

In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, gender plays a pivotal role in the development of the overall plot and as the play advances, certain characters, including Macbeth and Lady Macbeth experience a reversal in traditional gender behaviors. Additionally, we see gender confusion among other characters that enhances conflict in the play. Originally, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are portrayed in ways that enforce their respective masculinity and feminism in accordance to the society around them. As Macbeth begins to contemplate his decision regarding the killing of Duncan, his marriage becomes the primary driving force behind his action and thoughts in this matter. Although in some cases, male and female roles in this play remain static, the

Subservient, ignorant, passive, timid: these are the qualities that described the ideal 17th century woman in the eyes of Europeans. In the play Macbeth, author William Shakespeare explores the roles of these women through his female characters, challenging preconceived notions and setting up his personal perspective on what a woman's niche in society truly is. Through his contrasting female characters of the gentlewoman and Lady Macduff versus the witches and Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts the reality of how women actually function is society.

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

The play, Macbeth, by Shakespeare was a riveting tale about a man so drawn to the power he was promised in a prophecy that he became a murderer. A common theme in this play is the idea of masculinity and how it proves that a person is strong and important. One famous show of masculinity was that of Lady Macbeth: “Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,/And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/ Of direst cruelty” (Shakespeare 1:5:47-50).

In Macbeth, originally written by William Shakespeare in the 16th century, masculinity is a reoccurring theme in the play. Shakespeare tells the story of a man whose ambition overpowers his loyal qualities and later causes him to fall as a leader. Throughout the play, Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth both question what it is to be a man and to what extent masculinity should be played out in order to achieve success. Shakespeare shows the negative progression of Macbeth from being an innocent thane who would one day like to become the king, to a power hungry and evil leader who is willing to terminate anything that gets into his way of the throne. In Macbeth, stereotypical ideas about masculinity determine the fate of the characters because

Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as a woman full of masculine traits such as courage and ambition. She is the perfect and needed counterpart in order to push Macbeth to murder Duncan and take over the kingdom. The first trait that is shown to the reader is courage. When Lady Macbeth is planning how to convince Macbeth into murder, she describes herself as a courageous woman: "That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, / And chastise with the valor of my tongue/ All that impedes thee from the golden round" (Macbeth I. v. 26-28). In this passage, it is clear how she is full of valor and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. In fact, in Shakespearian times, being courageous was a characteristic reserved only for men since women were thought to be fearful and helpless. Even Macbeth himself recognizes this trait in his wife: "Bring forth men-children only/ For thy undaunted mettle should compose/ Nothing but males." (Macbeth I. vii. 72-74). Macbeth can see how his wife nature is too bold for that of a woman, so he thinks that she should only be the mother of men for her essence is in itself a good example of what a good man should be. This example is an undeniable proof that Lady Macbeth is a masculine woman. Another male characteristic that is given to Lady Macbeth is ambition. She is an ambitious woman and she fears that her husband will not be as motivated as she is to get the crown:

One would not think that committing murder, or persuading someone to commit murder, would necessarily increase your masculinity. Yet, in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, failure to commit murder reduces a man to the status of a woman, by definition, a non-masculine person. Being a man puts one at a higher status, proving one’s manliness is beyond important. It is common to take advantage of someone by challenging their bravery, therefore putting them in a vulnerable state of mind. Vigor, strength, and leadership are three qualities that were extremely important for men to have. Committing murder is one way of showing a man possesses these qualities. Proving masculinity by committing murder, or influencing someone to commit murder,

For the longest of time masculinity has been associated with higher power/ authority while being weakness and fragility has been connected to femininity. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth, the protagonist, struggles with paranoia and inner conflicts after his first murder of Duncan and the murders that follow. Macbeth’s inner struggles lead to the downfall of his kingdom and a despised image of his masculine powers through society. Throughout the play, the reader not only questions Macbeth’s masculine standing but also Lady Macbeth’s unique feminine personality. In Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the dichotomy of masculine vs. feminine to portray how even if male figures are physically stronger, females can match them through different areas

Lady Macbeth’s desire to become more manly and kill Duncan is against her assigned roles as a woman in this time period and continues to be highlighted throughout the play. Another character who frequently goes against his gender’s typical nature is Macbeth. After he decides he must kill Duncan to ascend to the throne, Macbeth questions his new murderous idea and nearly backs down. His wife, Lady Macbeth, determined Macbeth was not acting as a brave man should, exclaims “are you a man” when she learns of Macbeth’s doubts (3:4:61-62). By not always displaying manly bravery or courage, Macbeth goes against society’s expectations of him as a man.

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

The most notable scene where Shakespeare conveys this is Act 1 Scene 5. Lady Macbeth says, “unsex me here”, demanding elimination of all womanly attributes. She adds, “take my milk for gall”. This demonstrates she is reluctant to be a nurturing, mother figure. She thinks femininity is useless; 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 standards. Her authority cravings lead her to tell Macbeth, “Leave all the rest to me”, seeking dominance. Macbeth is essential to succeed so she could be interpreted as somewhat manipulating him into committing larger crimes – namely

Shakespeare uses imagery as a stylistic device to portray a wife whose loyalty exceeds her husbands; of a Lady Macbeth manlier than Macbeth. Furthermore, by Lady Macbeth threatening to destroy their child, and renouncing her ability to procreate, she holds the power to destroy Macbeth’s ability to secure his authority in future generations. Hence, she is denying Macbeth’s patriarchal authority.

In Act I, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth detailing the witches' prophecy and she ululates how she wants to discard her femininity and explore her masculine ones. She exclaims, "Come, you spirits that tend to mortal thoughts! Unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty" (Shakespeare, 1.1.5). Macbeth is said to view Lady Macbeth as a ‘masculine soul inhabiting a female body’, saying she is ‘ambitious’ and ‘violent’, but Shakespeare uses that as a way to describe her in a different light. Shakespear shows that her masculine attributes don't make her ambitious and violent, until Macbeth leads her to it, she is only ambitious of becoming queen after she receives the letter.

It is interesting to note the importance of gender in the personifications of evil in Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is as obsessed with her gender as her evil. When she implores evil to "unsex" her, to take her "woman's breasts for gall" she reveals the sense of powerlessness and weakness she feels. Being a woman makes her dependant on her husband for her social

Finally, Lady Macbeth conceals her malevolent character through the stereotype that women are harmless compared to men. By, “look[ing] like the innocent flower,/ but be[ing] the serpent under’it” (Mac.1.6.65-66), Lady Macbeth utilizes Macbeth to fulfill her plan in killing Duncan. By saying, “When you durst do it, then you were a man”(1.7.49), she is using Macbeth’s lack of masculinity to her advantage. Being a woman restrains Lady Macbeth from accomplishing matters on her own to the point where she says, “unsex me here” (1.5.41). This is the peak of her turpitude as she is willing to become a man for the sole reason of murder. After hearing Macduff describe Duncan’s dead body, however, Lady Macbeth is overwhelmed with guilt which causes her