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Gender Roles In Macbeth

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Put in some kind of good hook here. Gender roles are defined as a role or behavior that someone learns that coincides with their gender and the cultural norms. Many children are taught to look and act a certain way from a young age, as to avoid coming off too masculine or feminine, if it does not match their gender. Throughout Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the characters are often faced with multiple life altering decisions. With these choices comes a large amount of internal conflict. Shakespeare uses this as an opportunity to bring gender roles into light. From the questioning of one's own masculinity to putting up a ‘womanly defense,’ gender roles play a large role in how the characters act. He uses many characters throughout the play to show the behaviors that were expected from men and women during this time, and how they affected people's actions in times of internal crisis. When the character of Macbeth comes in conflict with his inner self, it is not until his masculinity is questioned by his wife that he …show more content…

Macbeth has a conversation with Lady Macbeth, naming off all the reasons he believes it is not right to kill King Duncan in order to become King himself; stating that by doing so they could accidentally, “Jump the life to come,”(fix this quote but Act 1.7 pg 21). By saying they are risking the life to come, Macbeth is stating that if he kills Duncan and became king himself, he is giving those who also wish to become king, the idea of killing Macbeth once he takes over. When King Duncan unexpectedly has to stay with the Macbeths, their internal conflict increases and Macbeth goes on with his opposing reasons on the crime, stating that, “First, I am his kinsman and his

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