Examples Of Masculinity In Macbeth
Masculinity and manhood is a running theme Macbeth. Throughout the play, Shakespeare challenges the traditional gender roles during that time period by having the female counterparts act superior among the men. Generally, men had the power and control over the women; however Macbeth reverses the traditional power division through Lady Macbeth and the witches although it maintains distinction by solidifying the powers men possess. Women during this time were submissive, uneducated, and had no say in society. However, Lady Macbeth’s actions are far from how women typically acted. In Act 1, Scene 5, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as educated. When she reads the letter from Macbeth stating his promotion as Thane of Cawdor, Lady Macbeth’s new
female identity is revealed. Her power stems from her ability to read and her power continues to grow as her ambitions grow. After she reads the letter, she immediately questions Macbeth’s ability to fill a position as king which contradicts the social standards for women. Most women were not allowed to question their husbands’ authority, yet Lady Macbeth bluntly questions his manhood. Although she is deviating from the norm by voicing her opinion, she enacts her desires in a distinctly feminine way, through manipulation. Her attitude in this scene triggers her gender role for the rest of the play, which dominates over her husband. As the play continues, her domineering personality takes effect. In her soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth asks to be “unsexed.” This statement illustrates her desire to step up the social ladder to shed herself of femininity. Her ambitions, combined with her power as a woman, enable her to control Macbeth. The bearded witches also play a very stereotypical masculine role, along with Lady Macbeth. The prophecies given to Macbeth mirror the ambitions of Lady Macbeth, but in contrast, the witches’ prophecies hold even greater value than Lady Macbeth’s ambitions because they are concrete and they cannot be changed. Nevertheless, the witches have an even more masculine role than Lady Macbeth, due to their power to see into the future and reveal another’s life. Ultimately, their prophecy brings about Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s insanity. They have the power to control the fate of Macbeth through their predictions and apparitions. The witches’ prophecies spark Macbeth’s ambitions and then encourage his violent behavior, the man’s stereotypical way of enacting desire. Although Macbeth certainly holds no power over the omens, he still holds the physical power to enact violence. The witches also hold a superior role over Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has many needs that virtually no one can provide her, but the witches feed her ambition, and she turns that around on Macbeth. If the witches had not revealed their prophecy there would have been no reason for either of them to plot against Duncan. The supernatural characters are extremely powerful and dominant over the rest because of their clairvoyant ability to see into the future and deal with the fate of people. The idea of manhood in Macbeth is tied to strength, power, physical courage, and force of will. The play illustrates a shift of power as women take on a powerful, influential role. Even as they become more influential, they do so in a feminine way, through manipulation rather than violence. Shakespeare’s use of powerful female figures in Macbeth made a complete turnaround from the normal roles that women carried. Although the manliness of Macbeth is present through his initial power and strength in battle, the masculinity of the females are more striking and effective because Shakespeare is able to show a different perspective through his writing.
female identity is revealed. Her power stems from her ability to read and her power continues to grow as her ambitions grow. After she reads the letter, she immediately questions Macbeth’s ability to fill a position as king which contradicts the social standards for women. Most women were not allowed to question their husbands’ authority, yet Lady Macbeth bluntly questions his manhood. Although she is deviating from the norm by voicing her opinion, she enacts her desires in a distinctly feminine way, through manipulation. Her attitude in this scene triggers her gender role for the rest of the play, which dominates over her husband. As the play continues, her domineering personality takes effect. In her soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 5, Lady Macbeth asks to be “unsexed.” This statement illustrates her desire to step up the social ladder to shed herself of femininity. Her ambitions, combined with her power as a woman, enable her to control Macbeth. The bearded witches also play a very stereotypical masculine role, along with Lady Macbeth. The prophecies given to Macbeth mirror the ambitions of Lady Macbeth, but in contrast, the witches’ prophecies hold even greater value than Lady Macbeth’s ambitions because they are concrete and they cannot be changed. Nevertheless, the witches have an even more masculine role than Lady Macbeth, due to their power to see into the future and reveal another’s life. Ultimately, their prophecy brings about Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s insanity. They have the power to control the fate of Macbeth through their predictions and apparitions. The witches’ prophecies spark Macbeth’s ambitions and then encourage his violent behavior, the man’s stereotypical way of enacting desire. Although Macbeth certainly holds no power over the omens, he still holds the physical power to enact violence. The witches also hold a superior role over Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth has many needs that virtually no one can provide her, but the witches feed her ambition, and she turns that around on Macbeth. If the witches had not revealed their prophecy there would have been no reason for either of them to plot against Duncan. The supernatural characters are extremely powerful and dominant over the rest because of their clairvoyant ability to see into the future and deal with the fate of people. The idea of manhood in Macbeth is tied to strength, power, physical courage, and force of will. The play illustrates a shift of power as women take on a powerful, influential role. Even as they become more influential, they do so in a feminine way, through manipulation rather than violence. Shakespeare’s use of powerful female figures in Macbeth made a complete turnaround from the normal roles that women carried. Although the manliness of Macbeth is present through his initial power and strength in battle, the masculinity of the females are more striking and effective because Shakespeare is able to show a different perspective through his writing.