The Definition Of Manhood In Shakespeare's Macbeth

We all have a different definition of manhood, or the way that we interpret actions into being a man. The definition of manhood is the condition of being a human being; or qualities associated with men. William Shakespeare has a very different outlook on to what manhood is and how he lets his viewers interpret it. He uses characters with very different life and outlooks on living. In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth Acts 1-4 there are important acts of manhood. In act one scene seven of Macbeth Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manhood. All throughout the play Lady Macbeth represents a more primitive and cruel definition of manhood which she often uses against Macbeth. Macbeth wrote a letter to Lady Macbeth about the prophecies that Macbeth

Macbeth uses the same tricks that Lady Macbeth uses on him to talk him into killing Duncan. He questions if they are really men, and if they would be able to go through with the murder. “Ay in the catalogue ye go for men; as hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels, curs. Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves are clept all by the name of dos: the valued file distinguished the swift, the slow, the subtle, the housekeeper the hunter. Everyone according to the gift which bounteous nature hath in him closed whereby he does receive particular addition...” (Macbeth Act 3.1 Lines 92-100). In this quote Macbeth is looking at the murders as dogs. He says there is two types of dogs pitbulls and poodles which are both dogs, but pitbulls have more manhood than a poodle. This is the same thing that we saw Lady Macbeth do to Macbeth and talked Macbeth into doing things he shouldn’t

Macduff goes to find Malcolm to help him kill Macbeth, never did Macduff expect the Macbeth would mess with his family, let alone kill everyone in his castle. When Macduff gets this news Malcolm says “Dispute it like a man.” (Macbeth act 4.3 Lines 259). Where Macduff answers with “I shall do so, but i must also feel it as a man.” (Macbeth Act 4.3 Lines 260-261). In these lines Malcolm tells Macduff to seek revenge on Macbeth for the killing of his people in his castle. Macduff knows that taking a stand in what you believe in is important but so is making his action as a man would. Macduff is pointing out that he could easily hide his feelings, but that would not make him any more of man, a true man shows his