The Role Of Femininity In Macbeth And Lord Of The Flies

Masculinity and femininity are terms to describe gender identity. Though there are manifold ways of interpreting their traits or duties as male or female, depending on their role in a career, there will always be a collective agreement on a statement or definition (i.g. The traditional definition). A common theme that can be analyzed in these works is the representation of gender roles. Seen in Wiliam Shakepeare’s play The Tragedy of Macbeth, and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the traditional male would be seen as dominant, while a female, presented by Karen M. Manus’ One of Us is Lying, is predominantly seen as being subservient. These different characteristics can structure one’s social aspect rather than their biological aspect given

The traditional portrayal of manhood is often validated by a man's willingness to commit atrocities to assert dominance. With the witches' destined prophecies, Macbeth knew he would have to commit treason for him to become king. When Macbeth begins to doubt his ability to take action, Lady Macbeth outrageously belittles his masculinity: “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (Shakespeare 1.7.49). She knew her action would influence Macbeth to prove himself as a man, that he could accomplish such acts without being seemingly weak. To protect his pride in being a courageous man, Macbeth had no choice but to prove others wrong so that he can feel superior to others. Shakespeare emphasizes the importance of demonstrating self-worth and identity, even if it means acting in an inhumane

The novel narrates the journey of survival with a group of British schoolboys stranded on an unknown island with no means of escape. As they attempt to establish a new society, they are subsequently navigating a life of their own through the ups-and-down experiences made on the island. Neglecting the signal fire and shelters, the boys appealed to hunting more as it is a means of showing dominance through violence. This behaviour leads to “the darkness of man's heart” (Golding 249), understanding that violent tendencies are naturally founded within them. As adolescents living in the absence of civilization back home, they are left alone to discover themselves. Despite society's expectations for young men (i.e. to be strong, emotionless, etc.), many still struggle with a sense of insecurity due to the lack of guidance on how to embody these traits. As mentioned, this is where the boys would have to revert to violence at risk of deeming it as defenceless. Likewise, Shakespeare takes on this notion of violence through Macbeth's murderous crimes for the accomplishment of gaining prestige and power. He (and Lady Macbeth) believe that to be a real man, one must be capable of taking vicious risks when needed. Without this factor, there will be a presence of de-masculinity. In both storylines, the men attempted to live up to society's