Femininity In Macbeth

Praised as the quintessential play of 17th century theatre, William Shakespeare’s 1606 contemporary masterpiece, The Tragedy of Macbeth, provides an insight into the hierarchal structure of 17th century England and the ramifications of any break in the Jacobean imposed, ‘great chain of being.’ Set in medieval Scotland, the play Macbeth draws upon both the true story of Mac Bethad and dogmas of the audience to portray “the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition in those who seek power.” The play often placing particular emphasis on the repercussions of any break in the great chain of being through the use of Lady Macbeth, Macbeth and the three witches. In Macbeth, Shakespeare subverts the typical gender roles of 17th century England, placing women in more than subsidiary roles …show more content…
Where Lady Macbeth disrupts the gender hierarchy of her time by asking for the spirits to “unsex” her and fill her “from the crown to the toe top-full, Of direst cruelty,” (1, 5, 41-44), in an attempt to undo her gender imposed femininity. It can be seen that Lady Macbeth is prepared to cloak herself in evil, to place Macbeth and therefore herself in a position of power, making her pivotal to many events in the play. Whilst Lady Macbeths quest for power consumes her, she still remains aware that the stereotypes associated with women do not allow her to directly attain power and as a result indirectly satisfies her lust for power through her manipulation of Macbeth. It is through Lady Macbeth’s influence on Macbeth’s fate that Macbeth is characterised as a tragic hero, where Shakespeare encourages the audience to both pity his tragic fate and see tragic consequences of disrupting natural order through the assumption of unchecked