Masculinity Versus Femininity in Macbeth
Throughout Western history, the idea of masculinity versus femininity has been a defining aspect of society. Femininity is traditionally associated as being weak and masculinity as being strong, respectively with women and men. Despite common thought, masculinity versus femininity is nothing more than a social construct and is not black and white. Even in 17th century Scotland, such a construct played into Banquo calling the witches men, Lady Macbeth asking to be stripped of her femininity and in turn her controlling Macbeth by insulting his manhood.
In Act I, Banquo remarks that the three witches “should be women,/ and yet [their] beards forbid [him] to interpret/ that [they] are so.” (1.3.?) Even though witches are traditionally women, Banquo sees them as otherwise by virtue of their beards. But …show more content…
Despite popular belief, manliness is simply not defined by how strong or emotionless a man is. According to Lady Macbeth, her husband is ambitious, but he is also too "emotional" to do what it takes to murder King Duncan so that he can take his place on the throne. so,Lady Macbeth plans to "chastise" Macbeth with the "valour of [her] tongue,"(1.5.26) so he can be "crown'd withal."(1.5.29). She continually manipulates Macbeth by insulting his manliness, like when she asks him: if you were not a man when you told me you wanted to murder Duncan, “what beast was’t then/ that made you break this enterprise to me?” she claims that “when [he] durst do it, then [he] were a man;/ and, to be more than what [he] were, [he] would/ be so much more the man.(1.7.52-59) she continually insults his lack of strength, and in turn his masculinity to force him to unwillingly murder King Duncan, even though she herself is proof that not only men are capable of such an act to become the
Throughout Western history, the idea of masculinity versus femininity has been a defining aspect of society. Femininity is traditionally associated as being weak and masculinity as being strong, respectively with women and men. Despite common thought, masculinity versus femininity is nothing more than a social construct and is not black and white. Even in 17th century Scotland, such a construct played into Banquo calling the witches men, Lady Macbeth asking to be stripped of her femininity and in turn her controlling Macbeth by insulting his manhood.
In Act I, Banquo remarks that the three witches “should be women,/ and yet [their] beards forbid [him] to interpret/ that [they] are so.” (1.3.?) Even though witches are traditionally women, Banquo sees them as otherwise by virtue of their beards. But …show more content…
Despite popular belief, manliness is simply not defined by how strong or emotionless a man is. According to Lady Macbeth, her husband is ambitious, but he is also too "emotional" to do what it takes to murder King Duncan so that he can take his place on the throne. so,Lady Macbeth plans to "chastise" Macbeth with the "valour of [her] tongue,"(1.5.26) so he can be "crown'd withal."(1.5.29). She continually manipulates Macbeth by insulting his manliness, like when she asks him: if you were not a man when you told me you wanted to murder Duncan, “what beast was’t then/ that made you break this enterprise to me?” she claims that “when [he] durst do it, then [he] were a man;/ and, to be more than what [he] were, [he] would/ be so much more the man.(1.7.52-59) she continually insults his lack of strength, and in turn his masculinity to force him to unwillingly murder King Duncan, even though she herself is proof that not only men are capable of such an act to become the