The Oppression Of Gender Roles In Lady Macbeth By William Shakespeare

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In the Beginning, over 400 years ago, William Shakespeare the Greatest writer in the English Language published a tragic play regarding the protagonist Macbeth who was greatly influenced and manipulated by others around him, including greed for power. His darkest desire was to become King of Scotland, so he killed enough people to make him lose his mind and himself. In William Shakespeare's time, men were seen as strong, reliable, and courageous. Through Macbeth, he demonstrates how gender roles are switched between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Every step of the way, his wife Lady Macbeth was there as a reliable source, constantly provoking him to commit disloyal actions, which resulted in the downfall of both main characters and to their misfortune …show more content…

Moreover, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth differ on how they support each other when both of them go insane. “Using those thoughts which should have indeed died. With them they think on. Things without all the remedies. Should be done without regard. What is done is done.”(Act 3 Scene 2 Lines 12-15). While Macbeth is completely losing his mind due to all the guilt for killing someone who trusted him, Lady Macbeth is having a shoulder to lean on by consoling him through her words. She is considerate through her attempt of finding a resolution in easing Macbeth's Mind, but Macbeth doesn t anticipate the fact that Lady Macbeth may feel the same way. The deviation illustrates their contrast in comforting each other because in this one sided relationship, one is giving support and the other is only receiving the support. Throw physic to the dogs; none of it. (Act 5 Scene 3 lines 56 states). While Lady Macbeth comforted Macbeth when his mind was deeply corrupted with guilt, after slowly adding more guilt and regret onto Lady Macbeth s mind, she finally broke. The events drowned her in regret, resulting in her unstable emotional state. Even after Lady Macbeth comforted him when he needed it the most, Macbeth didn’t dare to do the same and decided that it had nothing to do with