Gender

• What is the concept of gender in the play?

  Gender refers to the roles characters are confined to based on societal expectations.
• 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 when he hesitates to murder Duncan.
• 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, contrary to the expectation of repressing emotions.
• How was gender constructed in the Jacobean era?

  Gender was a strict and rigid construction that determined male and female roles within society.
• What were women expected to be in the Jacobean era?

  Women were expected to be loyal and respectful daughters, wives, and mothers.
• What consequences did women face for angering men in their lives during the Jacobean era?

  They could be kicked out or killed, and it was nearly impossible for them to support themselves financially.

  
• How did men's roles differ from women's in the Jacobean era?

  Men were householders, politicians, and landlords, and were encouraged to be aggressive, especially in their sexuality.
• What was considered one of the most honorable things a man could be in the Medieval Era?

  Being a warrior was viewed as one of the most honorable things a man could be.
• How does Shakespeare present different types of masculinity in the play?

  He presents various male characters that embody different traits of masculinity, prompting the audience to consider their differences.
• What does Macbeth's reaction to Lady Macbeth's taunts reveal about his character?

  His insecurity is highlighted, as he does not like his manhood being questioned.
• What does Macbeth mean when he says, "I dare do all that may become a man"?

  He suggests that true manhood is tied to honor and not just violence.
• How does Lady Macbeth's view of masculinity differ from Macbeth's?

  Lady Macbeth associates masculinity with violence, while Macbeth believes it is tied to honor.
• What does Macbeth's obsession with proving his masculinity lead him to do?

  It leads him to commit further violence and murder.
• What does Macbeth mean when he says, "I’ll fight till from my flesh be hacked"?

  He expresses his determination to fight to the death rather than surrender.
• How does Shakespeare portray Malcolm and Macduff's masculinity differently from Macbeth's?

  Malcolm and Macduff represent a deeper, more emotional form of masculinity that ultimately triumphs.
• What does Macduff's reaction to the slaughter of his family reveal about masculinity?

  His emotional distress suggests that masculinity can also be tender and loving.
• What does Malcolm mean when he tells Macduff to "Dispute it like a man"?

  He suggests that the appropriate response to grief is to seek revenge.
• How does Macduff's response to Malcolm's advice challenge traditional views of masculinity?

  He implies that repressing grief would deny his love and be unfair to his family's memory.
• How does Lady Macbeth's character challenge traditional gender roles?

  She is manipulative and domineering, rejecting the traditional subservient wife figure.
• What role does Lady Macbeth play in Macbeth's downfall?

  Her manipulation leads to Macbeth's tragic downfall, similar to Eve's influence on Adam.
• 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 follow her ambitions and commit murder.
• What are the key characteristics of masculinity portrayed in Macbeth?

  • Masculinity is associated with violence and aggression.
  • Male characters often feel insecure about their manhood.
  • Different types of masculinity are presented, including honorable and violent.
  • Fear and paranoia are seen as incompatible with masculinity.

  
• What are the key characteristics of femininity portrayed in Macbeth?

  • Female characters often transcend traditional gender roles.
  • Lady Macbeth is manipulative and ambitious.
  • Femininity is associated with the fall of man through manipulation.
  • Women are portrayed as having agency in the plot despite societal restrictions.

  
• How does Shakespeare contrast different forms of masculinity in the play?

  • Macbeth represents violent masculinity.
  • Malcolm and Macduff embody a more emotional and honorable masculinity.
  • The consequences of each type of masculinity are explored through the characters' fates.
  • Shakespeare suggests that neither extreme of masculinity is ideal.

  
• What societal expectations are placed on women in the Jacobean era?

  • Women are expected to be loyal and respectful.
  • They have limited financial independence and education.
  • Angering men can lead to severe consequences.
  • Their movements and decisions are heavily restricted.

  
• What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's character in the play?

  • She challenges traditional gender roles.
  • Her ambition drives the plot forward.
  • She manipulates Macbeth to achieve her goals.
  • Her power is mental rather than physical.

  
• 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 achieve by pouring "spirits" into Macbeth's ear?

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

  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.
• What does Lady Macbeth's manipulation reveal about her own freedom and autonomy?

  Her power and status are directly tied to Macbeth's, limiting her autonomy.
• What does Lady Macbeth's soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 5 signify about her character?

  It signifies her rejection of femininity to pursue her ambition.
• What does Lady Macbeth ask to be filled with in her soliloquy?

  She asks to be filled with "direst cruelty" and for her blood to be made "thick."
• What does the request for "thick blood" imply about Lady Macbeth's view of femininity?

  It implies that she associates femininity with weakness and emotionality.