Theme of gender

• men had a significantly easier time than women:

  • They were householders, politicians, is. They were encouraged to be aggressive, particularly in their sexuality which was celebrated.
  • However, there were still expectations of how men should act and needed to be financially independent.
  • Being a warrior was viewed as one of the most honourable things a man could be,
  • and dying in battle was idealised way to die, especially in the Medieval Era, when the play is set.
• A revelatory moment in the presentation of masculinity in Macbeth is:

  • when Macduff learns of the slaughter of his children and wife. He cries, "All my pretty ones? / Did you say all?
  • The repetitive questions and exclamations , and broken speech convey his extreme emotional distress, making him appear unmasculine in the traditional sense.
  • The phrase "my pretty ones" expresses deep paternal love, suggesting masculinity can be tender and loving.
• Masculine response Malcolm tells Macduff:

  • , "our great revenge suggesting the appropriate manly response would be to wage war
  • Malcolm's idea of masculinity seems to be close-minded, in line with his society's.
  • Macduff's reply,” also feel it as a man; That were most precious to me," marks a moment of learning both for Malcolm and Shakespeare's audience.
  • Macduff implies that repressing his grief would be a denial of his love, and would be unfair to his family's memory.
  • Shakespeare suggests the stone heart of masculinity is unnatural.
• • Shakespeare is criticising how society denies women their own freedom and autonomy.
  • Lady Macbeth only has to manipulate and possess Macbeth because her
  • power and status are directly tied to his. "Pouring]" her "spirits" into his "ear" may be a metaphor for how her desires can only be fulfilled by a male
  • Macbeth is her puppet because she cannot do it herself, instead she has to rely on her husband for everything.
  • Shakespeare could be showing that men bring their downfalls on themselves by denying women power.
• • Furthermore, the death of Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff suggests women suffer from the sinful deeds of men.
  • Lady Macbeth is driven to madness partly by Macbeth's murder spree.
  • At the same time, her death seems to signify her feminine kindness winning over her masculine or genderless wickedness.
  • Similarly, Macduff's sensitivity encourages the same compassion in Malcolm, and so these feminine qualities take the throne.