Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare about a man and the ever-changing conflict surrounding his life. In the context of the story, women were looked upon in a lesser way than men to say the least. The expectation of womanhood was to be in a supporting role to their counterparts. Macbeth challenges this notion to create interesting dynamics between the two sexual roles. Nontraditional roles of masculinity double as feministic influence and guidance through the characters Lady Macbeth, the Weird Sisters, and Hecate. Lady Macbeth takes upon a commanding role to guide her husband in the direction she wishes. The influence of Lady Macbeth on Macbeth is second to none. It can be said that she is the one who wishes to be in power and that Macbeth gives in to her influence. She describes him as “too full of the milk of human kindness” (citation needed) which puts the concept in Macbeth’s head that he is not manly enough. By criticizing his weakness, she evokes the savage nature that Macbeth slowly turns to. The “strong, rational, and calculating” (“Lady …show more content…
They “show him what he could be” and “murder becomes the means” that he must use to “create actively his destiny” (Asp, par. 25). The Weird Sisters do not blatantly tell Macbeth to commit murder. But by enticing him with prophesies of power, the thoughts of what could be make it that much easier to follow through. The witches do not submit to people of the mortal world; “they come and go as they please” and will not “be interrogated” (Asp, par. 24). The notion that a feminine character denies questioning by a male shows the power shift. It shows that Macbeth is not really in control as he believes he is. The Weird Sisters use of inhuman power in itself puts them above Macbeth in hierarchal order, but the way they indirectly compel him to commit murder solidifies the