Macbeth

• Macbeth's relationship with his wife

  • Allows Shakespeare to dissect the fine details of themes like gender roles, marital status and power within the Jacobean society
• Macbeth is submissive to Lady Macbeth


  Suggests that he assumes a feminine role in his marriage to her
• Macbeth's submissiveness to Lady Macbeth


  Subverts typical ideals of marital status in both the feudal world and Jacobean Era
• Macbeth digresses his traditional, courageous masculine form


  Conforms into an unassertive, feminine coward
• Macbeth's adaptation in his gender expression

  May be connected to his tyranny and corruption
• Perhaps Shakespeare was displaying how disregarding societal norms leads to vulnerability of ambition and temptation
• "I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition" - Macbeth
• "Thou canst not say I did it. Never shake thy gory locks at me." - Lady Macbeth to Duncan's ghost