Considering that many modern European plays lack the presence of female characters, William Shakespeare and Thomas Middleton, influentially known as the second Shakespeare, uses a widespread of females within their plays Macbeth and The Witch. The addition of female characters sets such plays apart from other modern playwrights. Creativily, it is an interesting writing technique for male writers’ to use social sterotypes of women in their plays, to aid with the barren aspect of women reap sympathy. By using the female creates a corrupt and conniving woman to tell a story to reveal the most powerful weapon of a witch, their word. (Stavreva 311) Through the creation of exaggerated immorality, the male playwright shows how witch-like voice in
…show more content…
Scholars wrote of the changes in the English society during Elizabethan era based behind the religious ‘improvments’. Marking the rise to more sexist freedoms in the role of wife and mother (Keller, 2). Women were finding ways to revolt the known domestication of femininity and enter into the masculine world. This threatened the patriarchal natural order of the society beginning with the creation of subversions. Using the voice and the presence of a witch creates a rebuttal against the recently empowered male. Qualities of a ‘slanderous woman’ suppressed the rise of female empowerment from a patriachial society. Such qualities made her undesirable towards the naked eye. Many of these traditional female characteristics sub-ordiant to men can be seen in the various female figures such as Isabella and Lady Macbeth. By exploring the manipulation of the female voice of Isabella in Middleton’s The Witch and Lady Macbeth in Shakepeares Mabeth plays have been cast as “human witches” through the lens of witch …show more content…
This was the second time that they’ve mentioned Macbeth, building a sense of keenness for their forthcoming encounter. The witches were the difference makers in Macbeth. They gained trust from Macbeth, who visited them frequently, and affected how he behaved in this play. Although Macbeth does the physical act of killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth is the thinker behind it. She used her manipulative powers over Macbeth. Shakepeares allows Macbeth to appear frightened and unsure about the prospect of killing King Duncan. It is assumed that he probably wouldn't have committed the brutal murder without Lady Macbeth’s torment. The metaphoric humiliation was a form of curse placed on Macbeth and his obscure actions to protect and perform as a hyper masculine male. (Stavreva 315-16) She ridicules Macbeth’s lack of bravery. While she plays on his basic human emotions through psychological torment. Lady Macbeth was guaranteeing that as long as he develops his lack of courage, the murder will prove successful. From this, both will lead a fruitful life. It is seen when Lady Macbeth barks "but screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail." (1.7.60-61) Macbeth has no choice but to obey Lady Macbeth . It was widely believed in Elizabethan Europe for centuries until now that witchcraft could cause impotence (Stavreva 311). A major textbook for witch hunters, Malleus
Scholars wrote of the changes in the English society during Elizabethan era based behind the religious ‘improvments’. Marking the rise to more sexist freedoms in the role of wife and mother (Keller, 2). Women were finding ways to revolt the known domestication of femininity and enter into the masculine world. This threatened the patriarchal natural order of the society beginning with the creation of subversions. Using the voice and the presence of a witch creates a rebuttal against the recently empowered male. Qualities of a ‘slanderous woman’ suppressed the rise of female empowerment from a patriachial society. Such qualities made her undesirable towards the naked eye. Many of these traditional female characteristics sub-ordiant to men can be seen in the various female figures such as Isabella and Lady Macbeth. By exploring the manipulation of the female voice of Isabella in Middleton’s The Witch and Lady Macbeth in Shakepeares Mabeth plays have been cast as “human witches” through the lens of witch …show more content…
This was the second time that they’ve mentioned Macbeth, building a sense of keenness for their forthcoming encounter. The witches were the difference makers in Macbeth. They gained trust from Macbeth, who visited them frequently, and affected how he behaved in this play. Although Macbeth does the physical act of killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth is the thinker behind it. She used her manipulative powers over Macbeth. Shakepeares allows Macbeth to appear frightened and unsure about the prospect of killing King Duncan. It is assumed that he probably wouldn't have committed the brutal murder without Lady Macbeth’s torment. The metaphoric humiliation was a form of curse placed on Macbeth and his obscure actions to protect and perform as a hyper masculine male. (Stavreva 315-16) She ridicules Macbeth’s lack of bravery. While she plays on his basic human emotions through psychological torment. Lady Macbeth was guaranteeing that as long as he develops his lack of courage, the murder will prove successful. From this, both will lead a fruitful life. It is seen when Lady Macbeth barks "but screw your courage to the sticking-place, and we’ll not fail." (1.7.60-61) Macbeth has no choice but to obey Lady Macbeth . It was widely believed in Elizabethan Europe for centuries until now that witchcraft could cause impotence (Stavreva 311). A major textbook for witch hunters, Malleus