During the eleventh century, being born a male is a privilege in the patriarchal society of Scotland. Shakespeare comments on the theory that masculinity is formed singularly by violence and supremacy, instead of honor and loyalty in the tragedy Macbeth. Shakespeare compares the idea of masculinity with evil to question society's perception of manhood and the destructions that occur as a result of tyranny. Ultimately, Lady Macbeth's acquiesce to the witch’s philosophy of brutal masculinity leads to her death and the damnation of her soul. Shakespeare creates Lady Macbeth’s idea of Masculinity as filled with decisive barbarism and narcissistic pursuits, which are absent of guilt to compare the depictions of humanity with unworldly spirits.
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In the beginning of the tragedy, Macbeth is characterized as loyal and honorable until the witches tell him his prophesies. Lady Macbeth views masculinity to be vulgar and absent of guilt juxtaposing Macbeth’s characterization. She does not believe Macbeth is masculine enough to commit regicide Lady Macbeth asks the witches to “unsex [her] here, / of direst cruelty! Make thick [her] blood,/ stop up th’ access and passage to remorse” (Shakespeare. I. v. 41-44). Lady Macbeth confuses masculinity with evil causing the witches to take advantage of the situation to lead to Lady Macbeth’s downfall. In kimbrough’s literary criticism “Macbeth: The Prisoner Of Gender.” Kimbrough questions how “Lady Macbeth wants to become cruel, which is a so-called masculine trait” (Kimbrough), and the idea that women are weak and dainty, which is ultimately in contradiction with Lady Macbeth’s characterization. Lady Macbeth confuses masculinity with evil doing and “begs to be sexually transformed, dewomanized into an inhumane (yet somehow masculine) destroyer” (Biggens). Shakespeare juxtaposes Lady Macbeth’s views on …show more content…
Lady Macbeth is characterized as more stereotypically masculine than feminine. Her insecurity about femininity leads to her call for remorsefulness, which she believes, is a masculine trait. Lady Macbeth starts to become more inhumane and remorseless as she demonstrates her misconception of masculinity compared to wickedness. Lady Macbeth chastasises Macbeth after Macbeth had killed the king at her request: “My hands are of your color, but I shame/ To wear a heart so white” (Shakespeare. II. iii. 63-64). She demonstrates her “new” evil characterization as she berates Macbeth about being weak. Lady Macbeth begs the witches to make her more “masculine”, Lady Macbeth uncovers that she and “her society have labeled remorse and pity as merely “feminine”. She and her society confuse womanhood and humanhood” (Kimbrough). Lady Macbeth's inhumane nature portrays the witches granted her request and made her cruel and evil. Lady Macbeth demonstrates her evil when she forces Macbeth to put up a false face before the dinner: “come on./ gentle my lord, seek o’er your rugged looks/ be brights and jovial among your guests tonight” (Shakespeare. III. ii. 26-28). Lady Macbeth’s compelling nature convinces Macbeth to partake in her facade for the night. She chastises Macbeth once again to demonstrate that she is in power. Lady Macbeth slowly demonstrates the damnation of
In the beginning of the tragedy, Macbeth is characterized as loyal and honorable until the witches tell him his prophesies. Lady Macbeth views masculinity to be vulgar and absent of guilt juxtaposing Macbeth’s characterization. She does not believe Macbeth is masculine enough to commit regicide Lady Macbeth asks the witches to “unsex [her] here, / of direst cruelty! Make thick [her] blood,/ stop up th’ access and passage to remorse” (Shakespeare. I. v. 41-44). Lady Macbeth confuses masculinity with evil causing the witches to take advantage of the situation to lead to Lady Macbeth’s downfall. In kimbrough’s literary criticism “Macbeth: The Prisoner Of Gender.” Kimbrough questions how “Lady Macbeth wants to become cruel, which is a so-called masculine trait” (Kimbrough), and the idea that women are weak and dainty, which is ultimately in contradiction with Lady Macbeth’s characterization. Lady Macbeth confuses masculinity with evil doing and “begs to be sexually transformed, dewomanized into an inhumane (yet somehow masculine) destroyer” (Biggens). Shakespeare juxtaposes Lady Macbeth’s views on …show more content…
Lady Macbeth is characterized as more stereotypically masculine than feminine. Her insecurity about femininity leads to her call for remorsefulness, which she believes, is a masculine trait. Lady Macbeth starts to become more inhumane and remorseless as she demonstrates her misconception of masculinity compared to wickedness. Lady Macbeth chastasises Macbeth after Macbeth had killed the king at her request: “My hands are of your color, but I shame/ To wear a heart so white” (Shakespeare. II. iii. 63-64). She demonstrates her “new” evil characterization as she berates Macbeth about being weak. Lady Macbeth begs the witches to make her more “masculine”, Lady Macbeth uncovers that she and “her society have labeled remorse and pity as merely “feminine”. She and her society confuse womanhood and humanhood” (Kimbrough). Lady Macbeth's inhumane nature portrays the witches granted her request and made her cruel and evil. Lady Macbeth demonstrates her evil when she forces Macbeth to put up a false face before the dinner: “come on./ gentle my lord, seek o’er your rugged looks/ be brights and jovial among your guests tonight” (Shakespeare. III. ii. 26-28). Lady Macbeth’s compelling nature convinces Macbeth to partake in her facade for the night. She chastises Macbeth once again to demonstrate that she is in power. Lady Macbeth slowly demonstrates the damnation of