Masculinity In Macbeth Essay
The speech Macbeth gives upon hearing his wife’s death in act V scene V is a representation of the theme cruelty in relation to masculinity; men are only respected when they are cruel. With Macbeth’s rise to power, his want for respect changes him. Macbeth was full of loyalty and respect in the beginning of the play. Macbeth has honor instilled in him from his militant status, so it is very unlikely for him to even consider killing King Duncan. In fact, Macbeth being the loyal subject he is, invites Duncan to stay at his castle where “the service and loyalty [Macbeth owes] in doing it, pays itself” (Shakespeare 1.4.301-302). Macbeth would not consider putting the King’s life in danger. Macbeth being a gracious host would do “everything safe
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The prophecies of the witches are troubling him. Macbeth cannot sleep, he is hallucinating, and he has become cold hearted. He goes on to state that he “[had] almost forgot the taste of fear” (Shakespeare 5.5.2364). At this point Lady Macbeth cannot deal with her conscious. She goes insane, eventually committing suicide. Once hearing this news, Macbeth does not bat a lash. He goes on to say that “She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare 5.5.2375-2385) These words capture the theme cruelty in relation to masculinity. At this time, power equaled masculinity and masculinity equalled cruelty to get any respect. When she dies, MacBeth is so overwhelmed with power and stress, he does not care.The player is a person living and the stage is life. People strut around life, and then eventually die- almost certain to never be heard of again. The lines "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" (Shakespeare 5.5.2376) have a resigned tone to, inspired not only by the death of Lady Macbeth but also by Macbeth's entire loss of purpose. Although there is an underlying bitterness at lost opportunity in the words "petty," "fools," "frets" and "idiot," for a man who has received such sad news, this is not a desperate speech. Time is like a path to "dusty death," and our lives areas "brief" as a candle. We are like shadows, or actors, on the stage of life (Shakespeare 5.5.2375-2385). Macbeth has become so numb because of his own terrible actions that he can't even react when his wife dies. All
The prophecies of the witches are troubling him. Macbeth cannot sleep, he is hallucinating, and he has become cold hearted. He goes on to state that he “[had] almost forgot the taste of fear” (Shakespeare 5.5.2364). At this point Lady Macbeth cannot deal with her conscious. She goes insane, eventually committing suicide. Once hearing this news, Macbeth does not bat a lash. He goes on to say that “She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word. To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare 5.5.2375-2385) These words capture the theme cruelty in relation to masculinity. At this time, power equaled masculinity and masculinity equalled cruelty to get any respect. When she dies, MacBeth is so overwhelmed with power and stress, he does not care.The player is a person living and the stage is life. People strut around life, and then eventually die- almost certain to never be heard of again. The lines "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow" (Shakespeare 5.5.2376) have a resigned tone to, inspired not only by the death of Lady Macbeth but also by Macbeth's entire loss of purpose. Although there is an underlying bitterness at lost opportunity in the words "petty," "fools," "frets" and "idiot," for a man who has received such sad news, this is not a desperate speech. Time is like a path to "dusty death," and our lives areas "brief" as a candle. We are like shadows, or actors, on the stage of life (Shakespeare 5.5.2375-2385). Macbeth has become so numb because of his own terrible actions that he can't even react when his wife dies. All