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Discussion Of Gender Roles In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

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In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, the thane of Glamis, Macbeth, is greeted by three witches who reveal two events that will happen in the thane’s near future. One is that he will soon become the thane of Cawdor, the other being that Macbeth is destined to be the king of Scotland. Promptly after leaving the Witches, Macbeth is declared thane of Cawdor. After seeing the first fortune come true, the readers will soon discover the lengths that Macbeth and his malevolent Wife are willing to go to become king. The concept of gender roles plays an important part in the play Macbeth by assigning specific behaviors and characteristics to certain actions and characters. Readers are able to see this idea when Lady Macbeth wishes to be unsexed in …show more content…

However, in Shakespeare’s time, crying was something strongly associated with femininity. This would mean that Macduff being judged for crying, and being told that he should start acting like a man would be rather normal. Finally, Gender Roles can be noticed when Macduff decides to snap out of his grief and avenge the death of his family. As Macduff is going on about how he needs to be strong and masculine at a time like this, he exclaimed, “Oh, I could play the woman with mine eyes/ And braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens,/ Cut short all intermission” (Shakespeare 4: 3: 237-239). Macduff, soon after being judged for crying, admits that he can go on crying like a woman would, or he could be brave and courageous by going to King Macbeth's castle, and slaying the wretched leader. In conclusion, the idea of gender roles plays a key role in the theatrical piece Macbeth by assigning specific characteristics to certain actionss. The Readers are able to see this idea when Lady Macbeth wishes to be unsexed in order to have the man like strength to kill king duncan, when Macduff is scrutinized for weeping at the death of his family, and finally when Macduff decides to stop crying like a woman

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