William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth depicts a man overcome with greed for power and authority leading him to kill those who intend on getting in his way of becoming king. Gender roles are evident in Macbeth to emphasize when characters behave differently than society expects them to behave. One of Shakespeare’s first use of gender roles is made known when Lady Macbeth proclaims “... unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full [sic] of direst cruelty” (1:5:31-33). At this time, Lady Macbeth wants to remain strong because all women, during this time period, are thought to be weak and emotional. Lady Macbeth wishes to become “manly” since only men were considered cruel and capable of killing which goes against a woman’s gender
