Macbeth

A detailed Summary of Macbeth

"Your royal father's murdered," (II.i.101). "Macbeth" is one of William Shakespeare's

most violent plays. There are so many murders in the play that they are hard to keep track

of. Every murder that occurs happens offstage, so the audience never sees any of them,

but they do know when a murder is about to happen. There is a trend throughout the

entire play, one that is not very obvious to the naked eye. Shakespeare brings up the

question of manliness throughout the play, and shortly after the subject is brought up, a

murder will occur. Manliness has a different definition between the characters though, and

Macbeth gives other characters, like Macduff, a bad name.

Issues of gender and manliness are frequent problems that dwell in the characters

of "Macbeth". Lady Macbeth is a very strong, free-willed women, and uses these

characteristics to manipulate her husband when questioning his manhood. "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,"(I.vii.49-51). Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband, saying that he

wouldn't be a man if he didn't kill Duncan. She also tells him that if she were a man that

she would kill Duncan herself, but she can't

killed, Malcolm consoles him by telling him to, "Dispute it like a man,"(IV.iii.219).

learns of his son's death, Malcolm responds with, "He's worth more sorrow, and that I'll

Macbeth shows his last act of manliness when he tries to kill Macduff. As the two

Manliness plays a much different role between the characters of Macbeth and

about manliness from Macduff and shows his maturity at the end of the play. After Siward

character of Macduff. Macduff's eloquent words and complex thoughts give a climax to

spend for him,"(IV.viii.50-51). Siward doesn't think about revenge, but instead follows

reflects on his family and the sin that Macbeth has committed, and asks the heavens to

going. Macbeth compares manliness with aggression and his comparison allows the play

destructive definition of manliness. When Macduff learns that his children and wife were

Approximate Word count = 906
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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