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Macbeth Final Draft

William Shakespeare uses the characters in Macbeth to challenge traditional notions of gender. Lady Macbeth is ambitious and manipulative, urging her husband to commit murder, in contrast to the traditional view of women as nurturing. However, both she and Lady Macduff ultimately meet their downfall due to their husbands' actions, suggesting women rely on men for their identity. Meanwhile, King Duncan and Banquo appreciate the natural beauty around them, exhibiting sensitivity rather than aggression. Macduff is told to dispute his family's murder rationally but also feel it emotionally. Overall, Shakespeare portrays both men and women as complex, sharing humanity's mix of strengths and weaknesses rather than adhering to stereotypes.

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256 views3 pages

Macbeth Final Draft

William Shakespeare uses the characters in Macbeth to challenge traditional notions of gender. Lady Macbeth is ambitious and manipulative, urging her husband to commit murder, in contrast to the traditional view of women as nurturing. However, both she and Lady Macduff ultimately meet their downfall due to their husbands' actions, suggesting women rely on men for their identity. Meanwhile, King Duncan and Banquo appreciate the natural beauty around them, exhibiting sensitivity rather than aggression. Macduff is told to dispute his family's murder rationally but also feel it emotionally. Overall, Shakespeare portrays both men and women as complex, sharing humanity's mix of strengths and weaknesses rather than adhering to stereotypes.

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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Dean1

Emma Dean
Mr. Bigelow
English A3
12 March 2015
Gender in Shakespeare
Gender is often a critical characteristic used to define who people are. The difference
between a man and a woman was made known since the beginning of life, not just biologically,
but also emotionally and cognitively. However, the line between a male and female are often
blurred, and still, to this day wildly debated over. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare
creates one of the most memorable and controversial representations of gender. Ultimately,
Shakespeare delves deeper into the concept of gender and sheds light on the hidden masculinity
in women and the shameful softer side in men, begging the question of what exactly makes a
man a man, and a woman a woman.
William Shakespeare does what many authors of his time dare not, and writes about the
masculinity in women, best shown through his leading lady: Lady Macbeth. Traditionally,
women were thought of as the weaker sex, good only for mothering, and pleasing a man.
However, the very first scene that Lady Macbeth appears in, she displays ambitious and violent
tendencies, remarking that her husband is too full o th milk of human kindness/ To catch the
nearest way (1.5.16~17). Milk, which is often associated with nurturing, is surprisingly not a
quality Lady Macbeth possesses, but instead one that her husband is burdened with something
that prevents him from having the guts to murder King Duncan. Through the course of the play,
Lady Macbeth is constantly urging Macbeth to be a man, usually as a way of convincing him to
commit murder. Shakespeare paints Lady Macbeth as the driving force behind her husbands
violent crimes; manipulating him but never once getting her own hands dirty. On the other hand,

Dean2

William Shakespeare reveals a very different side of women through the character of Lady
Macduff. After Macduff leaves for England, Lady Macduff despairs at why her husband would
choose to leave his wife, to leave his babes, / His mansion and his titles in a place/ From
whence himself does fly (4.2.6~8). This suggests that without a man, women are incapable of
fending for themselves. They are lost without a man as a man is such a substantial part of their
own identity. As contrasting as these two characters appear Lady Macbeth being dominant and
conniving, and Lady Macduff being helpless in the end they both face their downfall as a result
of their husbands actions.
On the other hand, Shakespeare attributes more female characteristics to the men of the
play. One prime example is shown in an exchange between King Duncan and Banquo, two men
of great power and high status. As they approach Macbeths castle, King Duncan comments on
how it hath a pleasant seat; the air/ Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself/ Unto our gentle
senses (1.6. 1~3). Duncan and Banquo pay close attention to beauty and nature, and instead of
rejecting it as too girlish, they admit that it pleases their gentle senses. Ironically, it is the woman,
Lady Macbeth, who is inside the castle plotting murder. Duncan and Banquos strange behavior
stands in stark contrast with the first image we have of them in the battlefield, wielding their
swords and annihilating the enemy troops. Through this, Shakespeare suggests that there are two
sides to every man. This is further exemplified after Macduff is informed of his familys death.
Malcolm tells him to dispute it like a man, to which Macduff responds I shall do so; / But I
must also feel it as a man (4.3.226~228). Macduff explains that although sometimes it is
necessary to take action, there is no shame in feeling and expressing emotions. In fact, this
vulnerability and openness may make you even more of a man.

Dean3

By the end of the play, the defining elements of a man and a woman, according to
Shakespeare, are still left unclear. Women are primarily portrayed as evil and certainly
influential, but that is where their control stops. They never directly participate in any violence or
such things. On the other hand, the men of Macbeth are constantly submerged in violence and
take pride in it. But besides this, they are also shown to possess softer, more feminine
characteristics that they feel the need to hide. Overall, both genders are shown to be extremely
complex, but one thing that they both share is humanity: a jumble of weakness, greed, pride, but
also loyalty and bravery.

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