Essay On Gender Roles In Macbeth

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In the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare gender roles and the opposition to them are central thematic topics that are heavily portrayed by the characters. The play takes place in sixteenth century Scotland, where King Duncan and his noblemen are the elite group of Scotland. Macbeth is apart of King Duncan’s court and his ambition along with Lady Macbeth’s to become King becomes vital to the play. However, the change of Lady Macbeth’s character through out the play emphasizes the theme that cruel ambition has no gender and leads to failure.
Gender roles is a thematic topic that is played out by Lady Macbeth; women are portrayed as being fragile and weak. In Acts 1 and 2, Lady Macbeth has an ambition that is clearer than Macbeth. She has no doubts nor hesitates about planning the assassination of King Duncan. In fact she questions Macbeth’s manhood when she states, “ when you durst do it, then you were a man” (1.7.49). This is significant because it shows how even though she is a female; she in …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth was very involved in Macbeth’s plans and her role as a partner in crime was very clear. To the extent that if King Duncan had not resembled her father when he slept she would have killed Duncan herself (2.2.27). This relates back to theme because it shows that Lady Macbeth had the cruelty and thoughts of killing Duncan herself. Yet, by Act 3 when the banquet is taking place after the assassination of Banquo, Lady Macbeth is left out of the planning. When the guests are arriving, Lady Macbeth says “ Pronounce it for me, sir, to all our friends, For my heart speaks they are welcome” (3.4.50). Basically, she is telling Macbeth to greet the guests and speak for her. This is important because it shows that her ambition led to a role reversal with Macbeth; instead of being the one directing him she becomes directed by

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