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Masculinity In Macbeth Essay

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The protagonist, Macbeth embodies masculine stereotypes throughout the play. Macbeth is a warrior and externally, reinforces and represents the typecast set before him. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth (as it was in Elizabethan England), to be manly is to be strong, courageous, daring, resolute and above all, to have honour. Outwardly, it seems Macbeth fills this role with remarkable ease. Although, brutal, he upholds his moral code and ultimately remains a ‘good’ person in the audiences eyes. His loyalty, his courage, reinforces and reminds the audience of his masculinity. This character is one that has been written time and time again, just with different names and circumstances. We see glimpses of him in James Bond, Superman and Indiana Jones - …show more content…

Although it is clear the audience would have disagreed with Macbeth’s ambitious ways Shakespeare never makes his own opinions on Macbeth’s ambition clear. Regardless, ambition alone is not enough to spark the flame for Macbeth to commit the murder. While Macbeth desires what he can obtain from murdering Duncan, he hesitates to commit these acts himself. Therefore, it is his feminine flaws, and the manipulative nature of his wife, that truly sets the violent motion of the play in action. One must understand Macbeth is not the ‘masculine hero’ he outwardly seems to be. At the beginning of the play, and throughout, Macbeth displays feminine qualities such as being weak willed, contemplative and doubtful. He feels both remorse and guilt, stereotypically womanly attributes. While it is obvious these characteristics are what make him a well-rounded individual, they provide a sense of insecurity to Macbeth as he feels ‘unmanly’. In his relationship and interactions with his wife we see this insecurity. Firstly, Lady Macbeth clearly controls the relationship and although seemingly all of Scotland acknowledges his manhood, Macbeth still feels the need to prove himself to his

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