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What Are Gender Roles In The Elizabethan Era

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The expected gender roles during the Renaissance are not exactly depicted same way in the the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare. Gender roles during that time period consisted of men having complete power within the family, government, as well as everyday life. The lives of women were limited and were stereotyped to be the classic housewife that did the dirty work at home and provided the needs of her husband. While this was the status quo during the Renaissance along with the Elizabethan era, the gender roles between characters in Macbeth were portrayed in a different way. Shakespeare made his play more original by verging from the expectations by Lady Macbeth having say in her husband’s actions, the comedic tone often used to depict Macbeth’s female feelings and actions, in addition to the diction used by Lady Macbeth that has a sense of androgyny. …show more content…

Lady Macbeth often states what is on her mind as well as how her husband should go about his actions. This is controversial and unexpected due to the fact of gender roles during that time period. Women were known to keep quiet and allow the men to handle the outside life. When Lady Macbeth reads the letter sent from her husband, multiple characteristics are detected during that seen showing not only her mysterious side, but as well as her lust for power. She wants her husband to be in higher rank which also allows her to move up in rank as well. This helps her to easily make the decision to take motive in killing Duncan and putting the blame on the servants. Proceeding along the play, Lady Macbeth also belittles her husband by giving him feminine

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