Thought to have been first performed in 1606, Macbeth is potentially Shakespeare’s most famous play. It is set in Scotland, and details the story of a nobleman going insane with greed. The tragedy is known for its use of themes like fate and greed, and the supposed curse on it. While Macbeth is primarily about ambition gone too far, throughout the play Shakespeare plays with gender roles and conformity. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a cautionary tale about the dangers of defying nature, and toxic conformity. Macbeth's need to feel more like a man pushes him into committing the atrocities he does. Macbeth's ambitions at the core are essentially to become the man: the king. While there is ambition for power, there is also the need to be perceived as hyper-masculine despite his intrinsic kindness. This is shown in how Macbeth responds to Lady Macbeth's influence. Lady Macbeth's arguments for Macbeth to kill Duncan were primarily gender based. When he expresses his concerns, she diminishes his manhood; “when you durst do it, then you are a man.” (1.7.56) Macbeth is easily influenced by these taunts, and gives in, despite his doubts. He is desperate to prove his manhood, and Lady Macbeth seems to know that. She plays with his …show more content…
While in the beginning of the play he is tentative about hurting people and does not feel he needs to, to be manly: “I dare do all that becomes a man, who dare do more is none” when Lady Macbeth manipulates him, he starts adhering too closely to gender roles, overcompensating for his previous “femininity” so much so that he becomes intensely violent and over ambitious. This insanity and overconfidence, while a hell of his own creation, is what eventually delivers his demise. Despite the fact he was already ambitious, the pressures from society and the people close to him to be more masculine directly influence him, and are the catalyst to his, and Lady Macbeth's