Examples Of Manhood In Macbeth

Whereas Macbeth believes that manhood derives from virtuous loyalty to one’s peers and leaders, Lady Macbeth argues that manhood requires bravado and fearlessness to attain fruition. For instance, throughout Act I, Macbeth vacillates in his willingness to kill Duncan because he questions whether or not the moral consequences of killing an honorable leader just to succeed as king outweigh all justification to do so in the first place. Moreover, his idea of manhood stems from honoring the integrity of other leaders’ victories and accomplishments. He insists, “We still have judgment here, that we but teach / Bloody instructions, which… return / To plague th’ inventor” (1.7.8-10). Although Macbeth’s infatuation with gaining power has motivated him thus far, his conscience warns him that one should not overthrow others simply for their success or …show more content…
She believes that the only time Macbeth acts like a man is when he dares to “break this enterprise” (55) to her in the first place. From the start, Lady Macbeth claims that her husband’s nature is “too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” (1.5.17-18) to seize risky opportunities in becoming king. In fact, she associates his meek disposition with the womanly connotation of the word “milk”, implying that Macbeth lacks the gung ho qualities that suit her ideal of manhood. To her, a man should be willing to unapologetically execute his desired plans without fear of consequences. Hence, Macbeth must follow through and kill Duncan in order to fit this definition. However, Macbeth’s excessive mercy stalls his rise to power since he has moral difficulty following through with plans to overthrow King Duncan. Nonetheless, Lady Macbeth foresees the thane’s potential since he “wouldst be great, / [and] Art not without ambition” (1.5.18-19), and he simply needs the aid of dark spirits to guide his