Gender Roles In Macbeth - 1879 Words

The Role of Gender in Macbeth Throughout human history, many cultures around the world develop a strict guideline of expected duties and characteristics that are based on gender. In Shakespeare’s plays, the role of gender depends on whether the play is a comedy or a tragedy. In many of Shakespeare’s comedies, even the most independent and clever women, who defy their traditional role, are eventually tamed through marriage and are ultimately redeemed. In his tragedies, however, characters who do not adhere to their traditional gender roles are portrayed as evil or unvirtuous. In Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, many characters are used to exemplify the desirable qualities associated with gender during this time either directly or through†¦show more content†¦. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Come to my woman’s breasts, And take my milk for gall†¦ (48) Through her pleading, she establishes the desire to reject and eliminate the feminine aspects that she believes are preventing her rise to power and receive more masculine qualities. By asking the spirits to unsex, she conveys the idea that the female sex is unable to carry out these cruel and malicious deed, which aligns with traditional assumption that femininity is weak. She also pleads for the spirits to remove the milk from her breast because she believes that they are a crucial part of femininity and are preventing her from committing cruel actions. However, due to her desire to obtain the ruthlessness that is associated with masculinity, she is directly defying her intended role as a woman. Lady Macbeth once again subverts the traditional values associated with women. After conspiring to commit murder with Macbeth, Macbeth soon becomes unsure with the plan and attempts to dissuade any action. In response, Lady Macbeth chastises him for being a coward before elaborating on the perfect nature of the opportunity that have been given. She equates Macbeth’s promise to kill the beloved king to suckling babies: I have given suck, and know How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milk me- I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipples from his boneless gums, And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to this†¦ (58) Lady Macbeth describesShow MoreRelatedGender Roles In Macbeth1477 Words   |  6 PagesShakespearian times the woman had no powerful roles, they did not write or act in plays. The roles were strictly played by men. This was true, however, in Macbeth written by William Shakespeare he portrays that both the men and the women in the play craved powerful roles, and desire ambition. Additionally, he shows how the roles of gender are flipped between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, and displays that Lady Macbeth wants control over Macbeth. In the play Lady Macbeth stands in for Macbeth’s manliness throughoutRead MoreGender Roles in Macbeth732 Words   |  3 PagesAccording to gender theory, society assigns certain roles for men and women. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, these gender roles play an important part in violence. Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth appeal to the role of â€Å"manhood† as violent and aggressive in order to accomplish the murders of King Duncan and Banquo. Wom en are portrayed as initiators of crimes and are viewed as devious.So, throughout the play, gender roles provide a means for murders and viciousness. At the beginning of the play, King DuncanRead MoreGender Roles In Macbeth894 Words   |  4 PagesZoe Lyon Mrs. Calland Honors CP English 9 13 December 2017 Manhood, Masculinity, and Gender Roles in Macbeth Gender stereotypes are oversimplified generalizations about the roles of each gender. 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ShakespeareRead MoreMacbeth Gender Roles Essay807 Words   |  4 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s tragedy â€Å"Macbeth† completely challenges the idea of traditional gender roles and social norms during the renaissance period. The male characters have many feminine traits while the female characters have many more masculine and manlier traits. This was going entirely against the stereotypical outlook of the roles you’re supposed to play as your gender during that time of history. During the renaissance period women were only expected to clean, cook, and to have babies. Men onRead MoreGender Roles In Macbeth Essay974 Words   |  4 Pagesof the time they wer e written, which can educate people in modern day about philosophy further back than the 17th century. The plot of the play, Macbeth shows how dark and hostile Shakespeare’s writing became after King James took the throne in 1605 (BBC, 2014). The way the play speaks about women can reflect on the way Shakespeare thought of gender roles, and can display how far society has come in four centuries. In the 17th century, women had few rights, and followed orders from men, at the timeRead MoreGender Roles- Macbeth and Lady Macbeth Essay1296 Words   |  6 PagesIn the old Shakespeare play Macbeth, women wear the pants, while the men wear the dresses, this is the theme throughout the play. It focuses on the marriage of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth takes the lead role, while she convinces her husband to kill Duncan. Shakespeare play concerning gender roles, shows the untraditional marriage in Scotland; what one sees is not what one gets. It also show how one starts is not how they end. The story of Macbeth shows power and betrayal. It shows power because it showsRead MoreGender And Gender Roles In Macbeth By William Shakespeare1043 Words   |  5 PagesIn 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 MacbethRead MoreGender And Gender Roles In William Shakespeares Macbeth1397 Words   |  6 Pagescompany. The tragedy was Macbeth, and it was about a Scottish nobleman who committed unimaginable acts for his own gain and benefit simply because of a prophecy. Shakespeare had demolished the stereotypes given by society to men and women in that time period by creating his characters to be the exact opposite of what was expected. This is evident in Macbeth’s opinion of his wife, Lady Macbeth’s shocking personality and in the three witches’ mocking and dark nature. Gender roles are significantly visibleRead MoreMacbeth Essay: the Role of Gender and Position911 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth Essay: The Role of Gender and Position Amilio Lopez In Macbeth, many elements that affect the story’s plot and outcome; however, gender and position of power play the most important role of the story. For example, Lady Macbeth continuously wants to be changed into a man in order to get certain duties done that Macbeth is hesitant to do. Also, Lady Macbeth uses the power of belittling Macbeth’s masculinity to further drive his actions in the play. Lastly, the witches’ predictions of Macbeth’s