The theme of appearance and reality is much discussed in Macbeth. Various critics have tended to look at the text from diverse perspectives. One of the most difficult plays to perform, Macbeth remains the centre of interest for both the students and the scholars. From the very first scene of the play, it becomes apparent that the play would deal with the problematic area of appearance and reality; as confirmed by the statements made by the witches: ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair.’ According to Coleridge, this statement made by the witches strikes the keynote of the play. However, in this paper, we are not really concerned with the accepted strand of critical interest. Our aim would be to reveal how the spectrum of the heterosexual matrix (appearance)
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Like Delila, who emasculates Samson, Lady Macbeth’s fiery critique of her husband is enough to emasculate him. Her critique raises serious questions regarding his masculinity. The very use of the word ‘milk’ creates an effeminate aura about his character. It is ironical to note that Lady Macbeth is challenging the masculinity of someone who has already been hailed as ‘valour’s minion’ and ‘valiant cousin’. The description of the warrior Macbeth reveals that he has the bloody side of life as well. Then the inevitable question that arises is: Why, therefore, is Macbeth bothered about committing the crime? That perhaps leads us to our initial argument about appearance and reality. In reality, Macbeth is perhaps not as masculine as he appears to be. From another perspective, it may be argued that Macbeth has a rooted sense of Christian morality and a sense of duty towards the state; and it is this sense commitment that has rendered him plausible to impeach violence against his oppositions in the manner that he has …show more content…
Queer challenges the essentialist assumption about the body by Feminisms (especially second wave) and upholds the idea of contingency of identity (especially gender identity). If this idea can be applied, then the representation of the witches is nothing sort of a step towards a Queer matrix. In fact, in many other plays as well, this idea of the contingency of gender is explored by Shakespeare. Take for instance, the queer moments that the Twelfth Night has to offer when Viola disguises as Cesario. The audience who were getting accustomed to some of these representations would surely have not missed out on such hints provided by
Like Delila, who emasculates Samson, Lady Macbeth’s fiery critique of her husband is enough to emasculate him. Her critique raises serious questions regarding his masculinity. The very use of the word ‘milk’ creates an effeminate aura about his character. It is ironical to note that Lady Macbeth is challenging the masculinity of someone who has already been hailed as ‘valour’s minion’ and ‘valiant cousin’. The description of the warrior Macbeth reveals that he has the bloody side of life as well. Then the inevitable question that arises is: Why, therefore, is Macbeth bothered about committing the crime? That perhaps leads us to our initial argument about appearance and reality. In reality, Macbeth is perhaps not as masculine as he appears to be. From another perspective, it may be argued that Macbeth has a rooted sense of Christian morality and a sense of duty towards the state; and it is this sense commitment that has rendered him plausible to impeach violence against his oppositions in the manner that he has …show more content…
Queer challenges the essentialist assumption about the body by Feminisms (especially second wave) and upholds the idea of contingency of identity (especially gender identity). If this idea can be applied, then the representation of the witches is nothing sort of a step towards a Queer matrix. In fact, in many other plays as well, this idea of the contingency of gender is explored by Shakespeare. Take for instance, the queer moments that the Twelfth Night has to offer when Viola disguises as Cesario. The audience who were getting accustomed to some of these representations would surely have not missed out on such hints provided by