Examples Of Masculinity In Macbeth

Macbeth’s response to the death of his wife shows how he has lost his ties to humanity in his quest to prove his masculinity. "A major part of Macbeth's agony is created by his recognition of what constitutes full manhood and his conflicting acceptance of an incomplete stereotype" (Asp 156). Macbeth murders the king as an act of masculinity when in reality is it an act of cowardice. "the courageous man will dare even murder to right the wrongs done to him; therefore, the valued man is he who will dare to commit murder"(Asp 155-56). Murder, in the play, is depicted as courageous and valant. For this reason Macbeth murders Duncan to fit into his society. Those who do murder are normally set apart as outcast which exposes the irony in his actions. …show more content…
His wife even conforms to societies views for her husband while she continues to defy them for her own self.“I dare do all that may became a man,/ Who dares do more is none”(Shakespeare, I.vii. 46-7). Lady Macbeth uses shame to convince Macbeth. She adapts to the masculine stereotype and shows her true nature. This reveals that the act of convincing her husband to murder may be out of jealousy of his power and masculinity. “The upshoot of this incredible mixture of insinuation and bullying is that Macbeth is forced to accept a concept of manliness that consists wholly in rampant self-seeking aggression”(Ramsey 289). Masculinity is defined by your willingness to commit violent acts. Macbeth ironically falls to the pushing of his wife to prove his masculinity. “In the play the male stereotype is associated with violence made socially and ethically acceptable through the ritual of warfare. Under the urging of his wife, Macbeth not only accepts the narrow definition of manhood that the stereotype imposes but he agrees to act that role for self- aggrandizement”(Asp 154). Macbeth uses violence to express his inner frustration outwards. Macbeth must do this to be a man in his mind to prove

Show More