To Be A Man
Macbeth, a tragic play written by William Shakespeare, portrays the story of a hero turned villain who is consumed by greed, and later fear. The play is based off true events and gives insight into the gender roles of 11th century Scotland. In the play, Macbeth takes great offense when anyone questions his manliness, and is willing to do anything to prove that he is, indeed a man. According to Macbeth, keeping your word, getting revenge and having courage describes what a real man is. Lady Macbeth hears of the witches’ prophecy of Macbeth, and is filled with glee. She resolves to kill Duncan and turns to the spirits for help. “Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown …show more content…
Macbeth, believing that no man can finish him for the witches had told him that no man of woman born can slay him, becomes fearless and reckless. He charges into the battle, and meets Macduff and Siward’s son. After Macbeth ends young Siward’s life, he boasts to Macduff that he cannot be killed by a man born of women, in which Macduff replies he is not born of women, having been ripped out of his mother’s womb before she could give birth. Upon learning this new information, Macbeth cries “Accursed be that tongue that tells me so, / For it hath cow’d my better part of man!” (5.8.17-18) for Macduff has made him fearful, and he believes that a man should have courage. It is at that point when Macbeth begins to act unmanly, as he attempts to delay the fight. Macduff does not care for Macbeth’s speech and with the courage of a man, slays him. Macbeth’s greed becomes his vile killer, the position he sought and the deeds he did caused him to quiver in terror. He attempts to act as a man should, however, it is manifest that Macbeth, in many aspects, is not a true man. Macbeth loses his manly traits as the play goes on, being swayed by the littlest of things, losing composure and committing murder, which he had deemed unmanly in the beginning of the play. He becomes a traitor, the very thing he was known for executing. In conclusion, keeping promises, controlling your emotions, having courage, and taking revenge are the ingredients to concocting a
Macbeth, a tragic play written by William Shakespeare, portrays the story of a hero turned villain who is consumed by greed, and later fear. The play is based off true events and gives insight into the gender roles of 11th century Scotland. In the play, Macbeth takes great offense when anyone questions his manliness, and is willing to do anything to prove that he is, indeed a man. According to Macbeth, keeping your word, getting revenge and having courage describes what a real man is. Lady Macbeth hears of the witches’ prophecy of Macbeth, and is filled with glee. She resolves to kill Duncan and turns to the spirits for help. “Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, / And fill me from the crown …show more content…
Macbeth, believing that no man can finish him for the witches had told him that no man of woman born can slay him, becomes fearless and reckless. He charges into the battle, and meets Macduff and Siward’s son. After Macbeth ends young Siward’s life, he boasts to Macduff that he cannot be killed by a man born of women, in which Macduff replies he is not born of women, having been ripped out of his mother’s womb before she could give birth. Upon learning this new information, Macbeth cries “Accursed be that tongue that tells me so, / For it hath cow’d my better part of man!” (5.8.17-18) for Macduff has made him fearful, and he believes that a man should have courage. It is at that point when Macbeth begins to act unmanly, as he attempts to delay the fight. Macduff does not care for Macbeth’s speech and with the courage of a man, slays him. Macbeth’s greed becomes his vile killer, the position he sought and the deeds he did caused him to quiver in terror. He attempts to act as a man should, however, it is manifest that Macbeth, in many aspects, is not a true man. Macbeth loses his manly traits as the play goes on, being swayed by the littlest of things, losing composure and committing murder, which he had deemed unmanly in the beginning of the play. He becomes a traitor, the very thing he was known for executing. In conclusion, keeping promises, controlling your emotions, having courage, and taking revenge are the ingredients to concocting a