The Contraception Of Women In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

In Act 1 Scene 7, Lady Macbeth labels Macbeth a coward and makes fun of his manhood by claiming he is too kind to do the job. After Macbeth objects, Lady Macbeth exclaims “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (I.vii.49-51). Using these words, Lady Macbeth brings out the competitive and sexist nature in Macbeth. Macbeth refuses to be underestimated and appear weak in front of others. Furthermore, Macbeth’s initial objection suggests his free will.

Lady Macbeth believes that being kind, loyal and worried about the outcome of actions are all acts that are questionable in terms of one’s masculinity. She very cunningly uses masculinity to manipulate him and get her

“When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man” ( Act 1 scene 7). This quote by Lady Macbeth is to her husband, Macbeth, after he has doubts about killing King Duncan. Lady Macbeth is basically telling Macbeth that if he has the courage to kill the king, he will become a true man and be able to achieve strength. She is pushing him to be more motivated and cold hearted , believing that if it is necessary to achieve power and success. However, this quote also mainly shows the toxic masculinity in the play, as it shows that a true man must be violent and aggressive.

The question of what these witches actually are

Macbeth defends himself here, begging Lady Macbeth to stop and claiming he is doing what is right for a man to do (1.7.45-47). At the time, the ideal man was someone who had integrity and honesty, their personal honor being of great importance (Mohammed). Macbeth while following his own moral code, was also going along with the social norms of the time, which perhaps makes what Lady Macbeth says next so jarring. Lady Macbeth infamously takes on a more masculine role, but here she goes to the extent of discrediting her husband’s manhood. “What beast was ‘t then, that made you break this enterprise to me?

The Portrayal of Gender Roles in Macbeth Shakespeare’s Macbeth follows the story of Macbeth and his wife as they take fate into their own hands, murder the king of Scotland, and put themselves one step closer to being royals. Lady Macbeth is a fascinating and complex character that undergoes many changes and development throughout the play. Lady Macbeth’s actions both challenge and reinforce the perception of traditional gender roles, but defying these roles is ultimately urged against.

In the story of Macbeth, the actuality of there being witches has been a debated question. Although Macbeth “sees” these evil beings he is just seeing them due to his state of mental health. It is due to his poor mental state of being that Macbeth conjures up these witches in his own mind. This is significant because these witches symbolize the dark and demented side of Macbeth’s being. Macbeth was an incredible warrior with multiple achievements belonging to his name.

It’s no surprise, that Shakespeare’s Macbeth was clearly constructed as a rebellion against femininity roles of the time. During the Elizabethan era, women were raised to believe they were inferior to men since men obtained desired masculine qualities such as strength, and loyalty, whereas women were viewed as figures of hospitality (1; 6; 28-31). Obviously, not being tempted by the luxury of subservient women, William Shakespeare rebuked this twisted belief, applying that women deserve more respect than their kitchen tables.

William Shakespeare portrayed the character Lady Macbeth to be extremely ruthless, malicious and manipulative. Thus, being the reason she could easily convince Macbeth to do her will, yet still put on such a convincing performance in front of those who knew nothing of her and her husband’s actions. Lady Macbeth shows her complexity constantly throughout the story when she shares her view-point on masculinity by demasculinizing her own husband, when she strategically plans the murder of the King Duncan, and finally when she finally goes crazy because of the guilt she possesses for not only her own actions but also turning her own husband into a

Macbeth’s ambition is one of the most prominent things that drive Macbeth in the play and truly becomes evident when he hears of the Witches prophecies. When the witches stop talking, he demands to know more. “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (I, III, 73-74). This portrays his excessive curiosity on the subject as well as his craving for more desirable prophecies. This ambitious nature and craving for power is also demonstrated only moments after hearing the witches, when he starts formulating a plan to kill Duncan in order to make the third prophecy come true.

Gender’s role in Macbeth In act I of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, some characters allude to their commentaries on the natures of men and women. As she dreams of the throne and contemplates the steps towards her ambitions, Lady Macbeth says, “Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from from crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty…come to my woman’s breasts and take my milk for gall… ”(1.5, 47-55).

The women in Macbeth are presented by Shakespeare to be powerful and ambitious which was unlike the typical views during Jacobean times. The playwright portrays Lady Macbeth and the witches to be highly influential to male characters in the play, which again contrasts the contemporary views to that time. Their ambition and power are demonstrated through the perversion of nature. This highlights the evil and immoral side, they possess. Shakespeare, however, presented Lady Macbeth and the witches to be manipulative and cunning, rather than violent like Macbeth was during the play.

At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.

The killing of King Duncan would be a surprise to the kingdom because of his kind heart and good soul. Meanwhile for Macbeth, the birth of his son is a threat to the throne. Although Macbeth may seem at fault for his murder, in Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Lady Macbeth pushed him too far by gaslighting, manipulating, and creating the whole murder plan for him. Lady Macbeth, like her husband, wants the throne. Throughout these acts, one can assume that Lady Macbeth is a very passionate person and is determined to get what she wants.

William Shakespeare takes an unconventional turn on gender roles in “The Tragedy of Macbeth”. It has been a historical and social trend for society to be predominantly ruled by males. In addition, females are expected to be subservient and responsive to all of her husband’s needs and are viewed as weak and feeble. This trend is seen at the beginning of the play. Ultimately, the play seeks and attempts to define what it means to be considered masculine and feminine in society’s standards.