n/a

• Masculinity

  The qualities traditionally associated with men, such as strength, courage and ruthlessness
• Macbeth at the start of the play

  • Viewed as an honourable and masculine character
  • Behaves like a fearless warrior
  • Acts how people expected men to act at the time - with honour and fearlessness
• Macbeth goes against the idea of the honourable man; He is viewed as an evil character
• Ways Macbeth goes against the idea of the honourable man

  • Lies to Banquo (his best friend)
  • Brings King Duncan into his home and then kills him
  • Kills Duncan whilst he is defenceless, going against fighting rules
• Macbeth

  • Allows women to control and manipulate him
  • His masculinity is threatened when events get worse
• Lady Macbeth

  A woman with masculine traits who wants to have her femininity removed
• Lady Macbeth

  • Wishes she could be more masculine - wants strength, courage and ruthlessness
  • Attacks Macbeth's masculinity when he shows doubts about the murder
  • Has some masculine traits herself
• Lady Macbeth: '"Come you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here / And fill me from the crown to the toe topfull / Of direst cruelty"'
• Madness was seen as a disorder that only affected women