Gender

• Throughout the play, the main characters implicitly express their beliefs on what a man should be, revealing the societal expectations of masculinity. By analyzing the story of Macbeth, the dangers of masculinity can be presented through the ideologies of the main characters and their understanding of the ideal man.
•  Lady Macbeth expresses her concerns however, when she worries whether her husband will be manly enough to follow through with this plan. Her fears are confirmed when Macbeth backs out of the plan shortly afterwards when he deliberates over the consequences of treason. Lady Macbeth, however, persuades her husband when she proclaims, “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."
• Unfortunately, Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband and his understanding of masculinity by claiming that if he went through with the murder, then he would not only be a man, but “be so much more.”

  Dangling the enticing possession of a manly reputation over Macbeth, his wife’s cunning tactic succeeds in cajoling the tragic figure into killing the King, setting off a domino effect of chaos throughout the rest of the play.
• Macbeth's Internal struggle with masculinity is encapsulated in his famous soliloquy after the murder of Duncan. He questions whether his actions make him less of a man, reflecting his awareness of the ethical and moral implications of his choices. This moment summarizes the fragility of his masculinity- it is no longer a simple equation of physical strength and courage, but a complex interplay of guilt ambition in self-doubt. As the play progresses, Macbeths grip on his masculinity becomes increasingly tenuous, leading him further down a path of destruction and isolation.
• The play Macbeth delves into the intricate nuances of masculinity. Set against a backdrop of power ambition and betrayal, the play offers a profound exploration of how masculinity is constructed, performed and challenged. Throughout the narrative, characters grapple with traditional expectations of manhood, revealing vulnerability ambition and fragility that underlie the quest for power.
• Conversely the character of Macduff's presents an alternative model of masculine. While macbeth's masculinity is defined by his ambition and thirst for power macduff's masculinity is rooted in loyalty, familial responsibility and a commitment to justice. Macduff's grief and anger over the slaughter of his family fuels his determination to overthrow Macbeth, not at as personal ambition but as a duty to protect his country and restore order. This way MacDuff's masculinity is portrayed as more virtuous and honourable. standing in a stark contrast to macbeth's toxic pursuit of power at any cost.
• Gender is viewed as a sign of logic and order, which is why subverting the gender expectations would have benn so disturbing to the jacobean audience.
• Lady Macbeth taunts Macbeth, saying “Who was it, who thus cried?” – trying to align his thoughts in her direction, dismissing the mental troubles that he is having after Duncan’s murder.
• Inclusion Shakespeare's Macbeth offers a complex and multifaceted exploration of masculinity. The characters interaction with traditional gender land the norms highlight the performance of nature of masculinity adds potential to lead to destruction.
• In act 1 and scene 7 we see the unnatural gender and power dynamics of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's relationship.
• "Was smiling in my face"

  "plucked my nipple his boneless gums and dash'd the brains out"


  The energy would have been horrific to the jacobean audience firstly because of the gruesome ducks position between the symbols of innocence and vulnerability in the image of a smiling baby against the graphic violence of murder. Dynamic verbs dashed and pluck connotes a great force and energy, thereby suggesting an eager willingness to murder the baby.
• Was smiling in my face""plucked my nipple his boneless gums and dash'd the brains out"



  Lady Macbeth's willingness to do this subverts gender expectations of the time the primary role of women in society was seen as Mothers and wives; therefore her willingness to kill a baby would be viewed by the audience as an unnatural subversion of her gender.
• The consequences of character's interactions with masculinity are undeniably tragic. Macbeth's obsession with proving his masculinity leads to a spiral of violence and paranoia, ultimately resulting in his downfall. The toxic masculinity that underpins his actions alienates him from those around him and leads to his isolation.
• Lady movement succumbs to the pressures of performing a hypermasculine role leading to her mental deterioration and eventual demise. Shakespeare seems to suggest that an exaggerated and distorted understanding of masculinity is destructive not only to individuals but also to society at large
• Macduff: (4,3)

  "I shall do so"

  "But I must also feel it as a man "

  "I cannot but remember such things were"

  "That were most precious to me"

  Marks a moment of learning for both Malcolm and Shakespeare's audience.

  Enough implies to refreshing his grief would be a denial of his love and would be unbear for his family's memory.