Are You A Man?
The traditional gender stereotype of masculine is referred to as being strong and robust. Typically males initiate power and demonstrate a strong exterior, while females are typically associated with internal emotions. The idea of manhood in Macbeth is tied to strength, power, physical courage, and force of will. Characters throughout the play use the idea of manhood to goad one another into action, manipulating the ideal of masculinity, to serve their own benefits. Macbeth initiates power and strength to prove his manliness, Lady Macbeth induces manipulation to commit acts, and Macduff believes that men must not only react physically, but also emotionally to given situations. Macbeth begins with a firm grasp on his beliefs of masculinity, but his actions and thoughts are altered due to his wife's perception of masculinity. Macbeth shows that he encompasses morals and strength when he states, "I dare do all that may become a man;/ Who dares do more is none." (1.7.46-7). Macbeth at this point is not easily swayed, and believes that a real man would not murder for power. Soon after, Lady Macbeth imposes her superiority notions of masculinity, when she accuses him of not adhering to the typical male stereotype. Macbeth echo
Lady Macbeth emasculates her husband repeatedly, knowing that in his desperation to prove his manhood, he will do as she wishes. Lady Macbeth wants to have all of the power and will that a man possesses, and be rid of all her feminine qualities to be able to act upon her depraved thoughts, "Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / ...Come to my woman's breasts, / And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers..." (1.5.39-48). Lady Macbeth's intention is to gain power and do away with her conscience and emotions. As a means to gain supremacy, Lady Macbeth uses manipulation tactics to persuade Macbeth to murder Duncan, " When you durst do it, then you were a man/ ...and, to be more than what you were, you would/ be so much more the man." (1.7.51-2). By goading Macbeth, Lady Macbeth gains initial authority of the situation and abuses her female privileges. Manipulation is the main objective in Lady Macbeth's rise to masculinity, as she belittles Macbeth she increasingly gains absolute power. In the play Macbeth, an untempered masculinity seems to yield aggression, power and control. Masculinity is rarely tied to ideals of intelligence or moral fortitude; even characters that embody these
Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Macbeth, Initially Macduff, , Lady Macbeth's, Banquo Aye, Duncan Macduff, lady macbeth, lady macbeth's, idea manhood, play macbeth, throughout play, internal emotions, power strength, typical male,
Approximate Word count = 831
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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