Gender Roles in Macbeth
The characters of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth deviate from accepted gender roles of the Elizabethan era. Throughout the play, social constructs of expected masculine and feminine roles are defied by both major and minor characters. Throughout Macbeth, Shakespeare explores and challenges stereotypical gender roles through female characters exhibiting masculine behaviours, introducing non-traditional relationships, and portraying examples of sexism. Shakespeare illustrates a world where traditional gender roles are broken. It is a world where women are frequently powerful figures and men are often shown as being weak and emotional. This challenges the thinking of that time, as well as the audience’s expectations of
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It is a reoccurring theme throughout Macbeth. Characters such as Macduff and Malcom make comments insinuating that males are the dominant species and females cannot handle what men can. They also make comment that men should not show feminine characteristics. Ross delivers the disturbing news that Macduff’s family has been murdered. Malcom tells Macduff to, “Dispute it like a man” (4.3.226), suggesting that he should not cry or show emotion because that is not something men do. Acting like a man is more important than showing his feelings because of the gender roles of the time. Another example of this is when Duncan’s murder is revealed. Lady Macbeth asks Macduff what has happened and he replies, “The repetition in a woman’s ear would murder as it fell.” (2.3.81-82). This is highly misogynistic and quite ironic considering Lady Macbeth was the mastermind behind the killing of Duncan. Macduff is tied to a notion that females are so gentle that they cannot handle hearing something like this. We are shown that sexism is present throughout the play. As well as men who are supposed to be tough throughout traumatic events have female traits, and females who are gentle and kind beings can show more masculinity than some