Homepage > Examing Gender Roles

Examing Gender Roles

02/01/2014 15:32

Lady Macbeth	Macbeth
When we first see Lady Macbeth, she is already plotting the murder of King Duncan. We find that she is stronger, more malevolent, and more ambitious than Macbeth. She seems fully aware of this and knows that she will have to push Macbeth into committing murder. At one point, she wishes that she were not a woman so that she could do it herself. When the news is brought to her about the arrival of King Duncan she says, "[U]nsex me here/And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full/Of direst cruelty!" (1.5.44-46). This scene is significant because it portrays her desire to have the throne and she knows that, by being a woman, she cannot commit cruel or violent acts; such as murder. In contrast to Macbeth, she is stronger and has a greater desire to gain sovereignty. Lady Macbeth wants the masculine qualities that Macbeth is lacking. This theme of the relationship between gender and power is key to Lady Macbeth’s character. Macbeth hints that Lady Macbeth is more manly than himself yet she is really a woman. He connects masculinity with violence and ambition.	In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is recognized for is courage and bravery in winning the battle. However, later when he interacts with the three witches, he shows that he wants the prophecies to come true. He tells Lady Macbeth of the prophecies and she immediatley agrees to kill and they start plotting a plan. During his conversation with Lady Macbeth, he says, "We will proceed no further in this business." (1.7.33). After he says that he isn't going to proceed with the plan to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth shouts about how he is a coward and convinces him to kill Duncan. Before he kills Duncan, Macbeth is filled with guilt and almost doesn't kill him. Lady Macbeth's ambition is what pushes him to commit the crime. This shows that Macbeth is less of a "man" than Lady Macbeth. He begins hearing and seeing things after the murder, "Whence is that knocking?-/How is't with me, when every noise appals me?/What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes." (2.2.55-57). He is losing his sanity and he is becoming more and more deadly. Macbeth no longer needs the support of his wife to kill people.

Lady Macbeth

Macbeth

When we first see Lady Macbeth, she is already plotting the murder of King Duncan. We find that she is stronger, more malevolent, and more ambitious than Macbeth. She seems fully aware of this and knows that she will have to push Macbeth into committing murder. At one point, she wishes that she were not a woman so that she could do it herself. When the news is brought to her about the arrival of King Duncan she says, "[U]nsex me here/And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full/Of direst cruelty!" (1.5.44-46). This scene is significant because it portrays her desire to have the throne and she knows that, by being a woman, she cannot commit cruel or violent acts; such as murder. In contrast to Macbeth, she is stronger and has a greater desire to gain sovereignty. Lady Macbeth wants the masculine qualities that Macbeth is lacking. This theme of the relationship between gender and power is key to Lady Macbeth’s character. Macbeth hints that Lady Macbeth is more manly than himself yet she is really a woman. He connects masculinity with violence and ambition.

In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is recognized for is courage and bravery in winning the battle. However, later when he interacts with the three witches, he shows that he wants the prophecies to come true. He tells Lady Macbeth of the prophecies and she immediatley agrees to kill and they start plotting a plan. During his conversation with Lady Macbeth, he says, "We will proceed no further in this business." (1.7.33). After he says that he isn't going to proceed with the plan to kill King Duncan, Lady Macbeth shouts about how he is a coward and convinces him to kill Duncan. Before he kills Duncan, Macbeth is filled with guilt and almost doesn't kill him. Lady Macbeth's ambition is what pushes him to commit the crime. This shows that Macbeth is less of a "man" than Lady Macbeth. He begins hearing and seeing things after the murder, "Whence is that knocking?-/How is't with me, when every noise appals me?/What hands are here! Ha, they pluck out mine eyes." (2.2.55-57). He is losing his sanity and he is becoming more and more deadly. Macbeth no longer needs the support of his wife to kill people.

Lady Macduff	Macduff
Lady Macduff isn't feautured in the play very many times. She shows that she isn't independent when she says, "Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes,/His mansion and his titles in a place/From whence himself does fly?/He loves us not;/He wants the natural touch." (4.2.6-9). Lady Macduff is not nearly as manly as Lady Macbeth, she depends on her husband for support.	Macduff seems to know what he is doing. He is a Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth’s kingship from the start. He eventually becomes a leader to overthrow Macbeth. The mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of Macduff’s wife and young son. Macduff shows his honest opinion about the King's murder when he says, "O horror, horror, horror!/Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!" (2.3.37). Macduff is a greater man than Macbeth because he is honest and loyal to all those who deserve it.

Lady Macduff

Macduff

Lady Macduff isn't feautured in the play very many times. She shows that she isn't independent when she says, "Wisdom! To leave his wife, to leave his babes,/His mansion and his titles in a place/From whence himself does fly?/He loves us not;/He wants the natural touch." (4.2.6-9). Lady Macduff is not nearly as manly as Lady Macbeth, she depends on her husband for support.

Macduff seems to know what he is doing. He is a Scottish nobleman who opposes Macbeth’s kingship from the start. He eventually becomes a leader to overthrow Macbeth. The mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of Macduff’s wife and young son. Macduff shows his honest opinion about the King's murder when he says, "O horror, horror, horror!/Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!" (2.3.37). Macduff is a greater man than Macbeth because he is honest and loyal to all those who deserve it.

Lady Macbeth in comparison to Lady Macduff is more masculine. Lady Macbeth believes that she is independent and doesn't need her husband to care for her, whereas Lady Macduff thinks the opposite. Lady Macduff is not recognized much in the play, however the role that she does play was a typical idea of a woman. Women were seen as pleasures for their husbands instead of people. Lady Macduff's idea that she needs her husband in order to be successful and be able to function was a common view back then. Lady Macbeth defies this view because she commits and say things that normally only a man would dare to say or do.

Macbeth in comparison to Macduff tries to conceal his feelings. Macbeth believes that men should not portray their feelings to the public because it makes them look weak. Macduff, however, is open with his feelings and he does and says what he wants to. Macbeth thinks that, by acting like Macduff, men do not fulfill their positions of being proper husbands. Macbeth and Macduff are willing to commit violent acts but with different reasons. Macduff wants revenge for the murder of his family whereas Macbeth only wants to gain power. When Macbeth found out that Lady Macbeth was dead, he didn't seem to portray any emotion. Although, Macduff was shocked and filled with grief the moment he heard the news. This is proof of their different personalities and views.

Gender roles have changed immensely since Shakespeare's time. Women are able to do jobs that were once seen as unfit. They are treated equally and have developed their own standing in this evolving world. Men are no longer seen as superior to women. However, these ancient views still exist in some places; it is an issue that still needs to be addressed. Women are able to do what they want without the help of a man. They are independent people who deserve credit for everything they do.

Back