Gender

• What is the concept of gender in the play?

  It refers to the roles characters are confined to based on masculinity and femininity.
• How is masculinity portrayed in the play?

  Masculinity is seen as the desired trait, with male characters often offended if their manhood is questioned.
• What does Lady Macbeth ask Macbeth that highlights gender expectations?

  She asks if he is a "man," questioning his masculinity.
• What does Macduff mean when he says he must feel his grief "as a man"?

  He implies that expressing grief is part of being a man, despite societal expectations to suppress emotions.
• What were the gender roles in the Jacobean era?

  • Strict and rigid construction of gender roles
  • Women expected to be loyal daughters, wives, and mothers
  • Men were householders, politicians, and landlords
  • Women had limited financial independence and education
  • Men encouraged to be aggressive and celebrated for their sexuality

  
• What happens to women who anger the men in their lives during the Jacobean era?

  They could be kicked out or killed.
• How does Shakespeare portray the different types of masculinity in the play?

  He presents various male characters that embody different traits of masculinity, conveying different messages to the audience.
• How does Lady Macbeth taunt Macbeth about his masculinity?

  She accuses him of being a "coward" and questions his manhood.
• What does Macbeth's response to Lady Macbeth's taunts reveal about him?

  It highlights his insecurity regarding his masculinity.
• What does Macbeth mean when he says, "I dare do all that may become a man; / Who dares do more is none"?


  He suggests that true manhood is tied to honor and that those who pursue excessive power are not true men.

  
• How does Macbeth's character change in response to Lady Macbeth's manipulation?


  He becomes obsessed with proving his masculinity and transforms into the man she wants him to be.
• What does Macbeth claim about his bravery in Act 3, Scene 4?


  He claims he is a "bold" man who can face anything, even that which might appall the devil.
• What does the death of Duncan and Macbeth suggest about Shakespeare's view on masculinity?

  It implies that neither the noble nor the violent type of masculinity is ultimately successful or admirable.
• How does fear relate to masculinity in the play?

  Fear and paranoia are seen as incompatible with the Jacobean view of masculinity, leading male characters to repress these feelings.
• How does Macbeth's character reflect the struggle between fear and masculinity?

  He struggles to keep his fear at bay, and giving into it feminizes him, adding to his internal conflict.
• What does Macbeth say when he learns of Fleance's escape?

  He admits he is scared and feels confined by doubts and fears.
• What do the similes referring to "marble," "rock," and "air" suggest about masculinity?

  They portray men as powerful, strong, and dominant, akin to nature itself.
• How does Macbeth's fear influence his actions after Duncan's murder?

  His doubts and fears overwhelm him, leading him to continue murdering others as a means of escape.
• What does Macbeth's decision to fight to the death in his final battle signify?

  It suggests that some of his courage and honor have been restored, aligning with the Jacobean view of masculinity.
• What is considered more honorable in the army according to the play?

  To die in battle rather than to surrender.
• How does Malcolm's understanding of masculinity differ from traditional views?

  He offers a deeper, more emotional form of manhood that ultimately triumphs as he becomes king.
• What does Macduff's admission about "boundless intemperance" suggest about masculinity?

  It suggests that men are encouraged to be tyrants and that unchecked desires can lead to tyranny.
• How does Macduff's reaction to the slaughter of his family challenge traditional masculinity?

  His emotional distress and paternal love suggest that masculinity can also be tender and loving.
• What does Malcolm's advice to "dispute it like a man" imply about his view of masculinity?

  It suggests a close-minded view of masculinity that aligns with societal expectations of revenge.
• How does Macduff's response to Malcolm's advice reflect a more nuanced understanding of masculinity?

  He acknowledges the need to feel grief as a man, suggesting that repressing emotions is unnatural.
• How do the female characters in the play transcend gender boundaries?

  • They are given agency by Shakespeare.
  • Their words drive the plot forward.
  • They reject traditional femininity to gain power.

  
• What is Lady Macbeth's role in the presentation of gender?

  She is manipulative and domineering, driving the plot with her lust for power.
• How does Lady Macbeth's manipulation relate to the fall of man?

  Her bullying leads to Macbeth's tragic downfall, similar to Eve convincing Adam to eat the Forbidden Fruit.
• What does Lady Macbeth mean when she says she wants to "pour [her] spirits in [his] ear"?

  She wants to persuade Macbeth to do her bidding, suggesting a manipulative and controlling nature.
• How does the reference to "spirits" in Lady Macbeth's speech connote the occult?

  It suggests she is invoking supernatural forces to influence Macbeth's actions.
• What are the characteristics of Lady Macbeth's power?

  • Manipulative and domineering
  • Drives the plot forward
  • Does not commit acts of violence herself
• How does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth's character in relation to gender?

  Lady Macbeth is manipulative and domineering, rejecting the traditional subservient wife figure.
• What drives Lady Macbeth's actions in the play?

  Her lust for power drives the plot forward.
• How does Lady Macbeth attack Macbeth's manhood?

  She questions his masculinity to manipulate him into committing murder.
• What type of power does Lady Macbeth possess?

  Her power is purely mental; she orchestrates plans without committing violence herself.
• How does Lady Macbeth's manipulation relate to femininity and the fall of man?

  Her manipulation associates femininity with the fall of man, similar to Eve convincing Adam.
• What archetype does Lady Macbeth represent?

  She can be viewed as a femme fatale.
• What does Lady Macbeth hope to do when she says she wants to "pour [her] spirits in [his] ear"?

  She wants to persuade Macbeth to do her bidding.
• What does the reference to "spirits" connote in Lady Macbeth's speech?

  It connotes the occult, suggesting she wants to possess Macbeth.
• How does Shakespeare link witchcraft with women's dominance?

  He implies it is unnatural for women to have power over men.