Stereotypes In Macbeth

The brilliant English poet William Shakespeare, created well known plays. Among them was Macbeth, written in the year 1606. The play has flourished through forty decades and is still praised in English literature today. In Act One of Macbeth, gender stereotypes are presented and dramatized in conflict between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. This ongoing strife towards each other sews the seeds of murder. Macbeth revises his plan of killing King Duncan stating, “We will proceed no further in this business. / He hath honoured me of late, and I have bought / Golden opinions from all sorts of people, / Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, / Not cast aside so soon.” (I.vii. 42). Lady Macbeth is angry at this idea and considers Macbeth stripped of his masculinity and in addition, she views him as a coward. “When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man… / Did then adhere.” (I.vii.42-44). Lady Macbeth is trying to get rid of her feminine side. Shakespeare has her say words which give the idea of men having much more of a cruel trait. “I have been given to suck, and know / How tender’ tis to love the babe that …show more content…
The specifics regarding gendered expectations have varied substantially over the decades. Regardless, characteristics of gender stereotypes are common throughout the range of multiple cultures. Modern women are striving to similarly resemble Lady Macbeth, in the sense of becoming more ruthless. Stereotypes referring personality traits are expected. For example, women are often expected to be pure and submissive being that the opposite of Lady Macbeth. “Away, and mock the time with fairest show. / False face must hide what the heart doth know.” (I.vii.46). While men are usually expected to be non-emotional and aggressive, unlike