What Are The Attitudes Towards Gender That Can Be Seen In Shakespeare’s Macbeth?
What Are The Attitudes Towards Gender That Can Be Seen In Shakespeare's Macbeth?
When Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, the society was seen as feudal. This means that the society was male-dominated. Women were seen as carers, and were not involved in decision making. They also had less power and control than men.
Also, in the time of Shakespeare, witchcraft was highly believed in. People who were accused of practicing witchcraft were usually female. This was also a way of controlling women.
In Act 1, Scene 2, the phrase "...for brave Macbeth" is an indication of what a man is seen as. In the days of Shakespeare, to be a man' was to be ruthless and brutal. Macbeth is seen to have this quality because in a fight, he brutally killed his enemy "...un-seamed him from the nave to the chops."
Also in the time of Shakespeare, women were not meant to be seen as violent. It is Lady Macbeth that is the one who actually plans the murder of Duncan, and gives motivation to Macbeth to carry out the actual act. She does not believe that she can be female and plan a murder at the same time. What is a good quality for a man is the exact opposite for a woman. Lady Macbeth knows this, and says "unsex me here." She wants to be stripped of all her female characteristics and qualities, so that she can be as brutal as a man. She expresses this point even more when she takes a nurturing image such as breastfeeding, and changes it into an evil thing like poison ".And take my milk for gall." If she is not looked upon as a female, then she can continue to plan the murder as a man would do.
In act 3, Lady Macbeth asks her husband "was the hope drunk?" What she is implying by saying this is that the thought of murder came into Macbeths head while drunk, and therefore the alcohol gave him the confidence he first possessed. Once he became 'sober' he has lost this confidence, which is shown when he no longer wants any participation in anything related to the murder. He is now "pale and green" like a hangover. Lady Macbeth thinks that her husband is a coward. "And live a coward in thine own esteem." She manipulates Macbeth by putting the idea into his head that he isn't what a 'real man' should be."
After Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth accuses her husband of being "infirm of purpose." This is because when he returns from killing Duncan, he brings the daggers, but then is too scared to take them back. A real man would have the courage to take them back, but because he doesn't, he is "infirm of purpose."
Lady Macbeth shows her feelings about possessing male qualities even more when she says "For thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males." She does not want to be associated with or around women
In act 2, scene 2, Lady ...
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After Duncan's murder, Lady Macbeth accuses her husband of being "infirm of purpose." This is because when he returns from killing Duncan, he brings the daggers, but then is too scared to take them back. A real man would have the courage to take them back, but because he doesn't, he is "infirm of purpose."
Lady Macbeth shows her feelings about possessing male qualities even more when she says "For thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males." She does not want to be associated with or around women
In act 2, scene 2, Lady Macbeth shouts to Macbeth "Infirm of purpose!" His purpose is to be brutal and he is not living up to this purpose. "Give me the daggers" - Macbeth cannot do the deed himself, so she must take control and do it instead.
An indication of how women should not be allowed to hear of such awful things is given in act 2, scene 3. When Macduff comes with the news of Duncan's murder, he says to Lady Macbeth "Tis not for you to hear what I speak; The repetition in a woman's ear, would murder as it fell. He is saying that if he reported the news to her, it would almost be as bad as the act itself. A woman shouldn't even be allowed to hear about things as bad as this.
In act 3, scene 4, Lady Macbeth tries the 'are you a man' approach on her husband again. When actually asked "Are you a man?" Macbeths reply is "Ay, bold one, that dare look on that which may appal the devil." Here Macbeth is trying to prove e is actually a man, and by daring to look at Banquo's ghost, he is a man, as the vision of the ghost is so horrible that would even offend the most evil of creatures, the devil. At dinner, when he is seeing the ghost, Lady Macbeth tells him that he is not actually seeing it, but it is merely an image of his fear in his mind. "This is the very painting of your fear." She tells him that Banquo's is an image, like the image which of the daggers which lead him to Duncan. "This is the air-drawn dagger which you said led you to Duncan."
When Macduff flees to England, leaving his wife and children behind, his wife, Lady Macduff, describes him as a coward. The image that is given is one of a man who will stay and fight to protect his family. She contrasts him to a wren, a small bird. She says "For the poor wren, the most diminutive of birds, will fight, Her young ones in her nest, against the owl. The wren is one of the smallest and weakest of birds, yet it will defend itself against a far greater force, the owl. This shows Macduff as a coward, because Macbeth is not that much of a greater power than him, yet he runs away at the first sign of danger. He wants 'the natural touch.' "All is the fear, and nothing is the love." His fear is greater than his love for his family. In the times of Shakespeare, a man would not have been seen to do this, as he would be classed as a coward. It was not thought of for a man to be fearful. Only for a woman would this be seen as normal behaviour I society. "So runs against all reason" Even though he shouldn't, he runs away.
When Malcolm tries to bring Macbeth back to Scotland, and fight for the position of king, Macduff is suspicious that Macbeth has sent Malcolm in order to 'lure' him into a trap. Because of this, he tries to pretend that he would not be a good king, and that Macbeth would be better. He knows that if Macduff has been send by Macbeth, then he will try to persuade him to come with him, even though he thinks he will be a bad leader. If Malcolm is however genuine in what he says, then he will re-consider his proposal to Macduff. Macduff tells Malcolm that should he become king of Scotland, then he would be an unfit leader, as his lust and desire for women would interfere with his leadership. "In my voluptuoness; your wives, your daughters, your matrons and your maids, could not fill up to cistern my lust; and my desire All continent impediments would o'er bear, That did oppose my will." Malcolm actually tells him that Macbeth is the better person for the position asking "Better Macbeth than such an one to reign." In reply to this, Macduff tells Malcolm that there are enough women 'to spare' for him. "We have willing danes enough; there cannot be that vulture in you, to devour so many." The attitude towards the female gender is given here, that women can be seen and treated as 'objects.' Even though women are seen as objects, Macduff still must have some true feelings for them. He shows this when he says "I cannot remember when such things were. That were most precious to me. This is after he has been told that they have been brutally murdered.
The aggressive male attitude is shown again when Macduff accepts Malcolm's offer to challenge Macbeth. "Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself." Upon this acceptance, Malcolm says to Macduff "This tune goes manly." Now that Macduff is fighting, he is seen as a man by Malcolm. The act of Macduff is seen as 'that of a man.'
When Ross approaches Siward with the news of his son's death, Siward asks him "Had he his hurts before?" Ross replies "Ay, on the front." When Siward hears this news, his reaction lacks compassion. "Why then, Gods soldier be he; Had I as many sons as I have hairs, I would not wish them to a fairer death. And so his death is knolled." Siward believes tat if his sons injuries are on his front, then he died facing his enemy, like a man would do. "Gods soldier." If his injuries had been on his back, then this would have meant that he dies running away from his enemy, like a coward. His lack of compassion can be explained by this. Being a true man was a very important quality, and something to be proud of. His son had been proven a true man by his frontal injuries, so his sorrows were not as great, as he knew he has raised a true person. "Gods soldier be he" Young Siward had the true qualities of a man, unlike Macbeth.
Throughout this play, the message sent across to the reader us that men are more powerful and dominant over women. When we look at the play as a whole, the most powerful and dangerous people are the witches. The question can be asked, why are the witches female? They are described as the "weird sisters" and the "Midnight hags." We can say however, that even though they are sisters, they have male features. "you should be women, but your beards forbid me to believe it." This again can be seen as a situation where a woman cannot be seen as normal is she acts like a man. Because witches are dangerous and powerful, they cannot possibly be seen as 'real' women, and their beards allow this.
Our overall impressions of the play are that men are seen as a higher power, and are more dominant than women. The female gender is looked down on, and the attitudes are, that if a woman is to be a true women, she must not possess anything that is seen as a quality for a man.
John Keymer
