Gender Roles In 16th Century England

Gender and Class Roles in 16th Century England

Gender and social roles have played a huge part in human interaction and behaviour throughout history; from the moment people are born there are certain rules and expectations placed according to their gender that dictate the way someone acts and how someone is seen by others. Macbeth is a Shakesperian tragedy about a Scottish thane driven insane by ambition and power after hearing a prophecy that he will be king. Writer William Shakespeare utilises the theme of gender and class roles in 16th century England to highlight that these “traditional” beliefs are harmful and can cause people to make decisions and take actions that are not morally true to themselves.

Gender roles are harmful to one's

Women were expected to only pursue domestic activities at home, and do things that would better their families and husbands (Shanette). Not only was there this social expectation of women, but also legally they were not allowed to vote or pursue higher professions such as law, medicine or politics (Shanette). Looking at the character of Lady Macbeth, her being the wife of Macbeth and her role in fulfilling his prophecy of being king would make sense with what was expected of women at the time which was to support their husbands and families in any way they could, and in this situation would be improving their social status and gaining power from the throne. When Macbeth would not go through with the murder on his own, she takes matters into her own hands and has to “unsex” herself to be able to do that for her husband - “Come you spirits/That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here/And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/Of direst cruelty” (Act I, Scene V, 47,48,49). As well, women were considered legally “owned” by their husbands at this time (Cloud), almost like slaves which explains this duty to serve their husbands. So these expectations of women and limiting what they were able to do can lead to this skewed perception of what is right and

This strictness causes a loss of self and instead forced many people into the “moulds” of their class. Nobles in this time in England were a small group of rich, upper class people that were supposed to be loyal to the king (The Historical Association). The only way that Nobles would lose their fortunes would be committing a major crime like treason (The Historical Association). In the play, when Macbeth accepts the title of Thane of Cawdor, he says this to Duncan: “..and our duties/ Are to your throne and state children and servants” (Act I, Scene IV, Line 25/26). Macbeth compares the relationship between the monarch and nobles to a father and his child, that their duty is to protect them. So when we look at the character of a noble like Macduff, he should naturally be loyal to the king. Instead, when Macbeth kills Duncan and becomes king, Macduff stays true to his own personal values and morals and decides to join Malcom to take the throne back. Even when his family is killed by Macbeth ordering assassins, he is unfazed and seems un bothered even and chooses to stay with Malcolm. It’s like his own personal values are lost because of his apparent duty to serve the king, Malcolm, and support him to take back the throne. So, this relates to the “mould” that an individual is put into