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Masculinity In Macbeth

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Act III Reader Response In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, he deals with the idea of gender by showing the audience what it takes to be a man. In the play Shakespeare defines masculinity and womanhood in the most generic way. In the beginning he describes men to be fearless, and courageous. As shown when Macbeth shows his brutality on the battlefield when he sliced a man from his stomach to his chin. And the women are not seen as powerful beings. However, his representation of genders turn into complete opposites. In the Elizabethan age women are supposed to have feminine appearances, and are to be innocent, but in the play the three witches have beards and are ruthless creatures. And Macbeth was fearful of his power position after he murdered Duncan. Additionally, in the play Lady Macbeth planned the murder of Duncan for Macbeth, and attacked …show more content…

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth define masculinity differently. Macbeth in the beginning depends on Lady Macbeth to plan the murder, and she stops Macbeth from almost confessing of his crimes several times. The witches have masculine features, and Macbeth trust their promises, and he relies on the witches to give him the information he desires. The rest of the characters see Lady Macbeth as a gentle women, and had no clue that she was the mastermind behind the murder. She was supposed to “be innocent of this knowledge” (Mac.3.2.47). Women were believed to be too sensitive to endure any gory information. Also, the people thought Macbeth to be a fearless leader. In contrast, after Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo and makes a scene in front of his subjects. Lady Macbeth pulled him aside and asks Macbeth “ are you a man” (Mac.3.4.61-62)? She is questioning his manhood because he is showing his fear in front of everyone, but she is acting rational. Lady Macbeth is wearing the pants at this point of the play, and taking charge in cleaning up his

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