Essay on Changing Gender Roles in William Shakespeares...

Changing Gender Roles in William Shakespeares Macbeth Much attention has been paid to the theme of manliness as it appears throughout Macbeth. In his introduction to Macbeth in The Riverside Shakespeare, Frank Kermode contends that the play is about the eclipse of civility and manhood, [and] the temporary triumph of evil (1307). Stephen Greenblatt emphasizes the same idea in The Norton Shakespeare, crediting Lady Macbeth for encouraging her husband through both sexual taunting and the terrible force of her determination (2557-58). Macbeth responds to his wife with a clear sense of the proper boundaries of his identity as a male and as a human being, [telling her] I dare do all that may become a man;/Who dares do†¦show more content†¦(16-23) The Captains enthusiastic description of Macbeths courage in the battle with Macdonald, and Duncans agreement that his valiant cousin is a worthy gentleman (24), belie any notion that charges of unmanliness are levelled against Macbeth by his seemingly respectful male colleagues. Measuring masculinity in terms of military prowess, Duncan and his men perceive no inherent weakness in Macbeth, and they have little reason to suspect him of the treason and disorder he will ultimately initiate. If Macbeth is to be charged with unmanliness, the accusation must necessarily appear from beyond the relative safety of this decidedly masculine domain. It does. Although Macbeths violence against Duncan is frequently attributed jointly to the inspiration of the witches and Lady Macbeth,1 the play carefully refrains from having the witches openly encourage Macbeth to take action, whether lethal, passive, or otherwise. Despite critical contentions that Lady Macbeth replaces the witches following the first act,2 it is crucial to note that her persuasions, unlike the sisters, are decidedly proactive. The witches merely report their prophecy; Lady Macbeth effectively pushes her husband into forcing it to become a reality. The difference in her influence lies in its kind as well as its degree: whereas the sisters act only as the instruments of evil, Lady Macbeth actively promotes her elected role as her husbandsShow MoreRelatedGender 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, cer tain 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 MoreIn History It Is Often Taught That Even Events That Occurred1499 Words   |  6 Pagesrelevance to our everyday lives. 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