Gender in Macbeth
He explores the deeper meaning behind what it means to be a man or woman. Arguably, he offers a
rather surface-level understanding of what it means to be a woman and the woman’s place in
society. You could infer that Shakespeare believes that the woman’s place in not in power, as shown
through the tragic demise that all the female characters face other than the witches, but always
behind the man, a concept that still survives today. However, you could also argue that due to the
successful reign of Elizabeth I, the virgin queen, it’s likely that he is criticising the systems in which
men overlook and subvert women to point their influence goes unnoticed. Masculinity is explored in
various directions as the characters try to understand what necessarily makes them a man.
Women and Jacobean gender roles
“Fair and noble hostess” Act 1 Scene 6
“O gentle lady” Act 2 Scene 3
“Lady Macbeth faints or pretends to faint” A2S3
A lot of the male characters are unassuming to Lady Macbeth’s façade, perhaps exposing the myopia
and narrow-mindedness when it comes to women and thus bringing their downfall. Because of this,
Lady Macbeth can manipulate these roles to evade suspicion. It’s therefore easier for Lady Macbeth
to do this because the men in the play believed that men are more inclined to violence than women.
“Do I put up that womanly defence” Act 4 Scene 2
Even women can recognise what is stereotypically expected of them in emotionally distressing
situations, perhaps suggesting that the Jacobean society interpretated femininity as being overly
emotional and sensitive. These ideals lay fertile ground for a cultural shock when the audience
witness the supposedly masculine or more so androgynous characters of Lady Macbeth and the
witches.
“You should be women, yet your beards forbid me” Act 1 Scene 3
Shakespeare uses the witches as an androgynous force throughout the play, perhaps suggesting how
when women attempt to be powerful in the play, they always use masculinity to express their
power. This suggests to me that, in the Jacobean era, masculinity is associated with power and
femininity is inferiority. The witches are rejects of the patriarchal standards.
Men and Jacobean gender roles
“Dispute it like a man” Act 4 Scene 3
“Play the woman with thine eyes” Act 4 Scene 3
“We are men” Act 3 Scene 2
When you durst do it, then you are a man Act 1 Scene 7
Here, masculinity is associated with violence and murder; this interpretation perhaps refers to the
Jacobean ideals of masculinity. This interpretation of masculinity is the sole cause of Macbeth’s
suffering at the hands of Lady Macbeth, the idea that being a man means to be murderous and
violent holds both him and his wife in chokehold until their tragic demise. Also, it also suggests that
masculinity is associated with revenge, or even impulsivity. Malcolm tells Macbeth to not be an
emotional sap and translate his grief into anger and violence.
“But I must also feel like it like as a man” Act 4 Scene 3
“Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee!” Act 4 Scene 3
Macduff believes however that masculinity is not about being emotionless and perhaps about
responsibility. He recognises that he must avenge his family not because that’s the right response
as a man but because it’s the only way he can take responsibility for their senseless murders.
He explores the deeper meaning behind what it means to be a man or woman. Arguably, he offers a
rather surface-level understanding of what it means to be a woman and the woman’s place in
society. You could infer that Shakespeare believes that the woman’s place in not in power, as shown
through the tragic demise that all the female characters face other than the witches, but always
behind the man, a concept that still survives today. However, you could also argue that due to the
successful reign of Elizabeth I, the virgin queen, it’s likely that he is criticising the systems in which
men overlook and subvert women to point their influence goes unnoticed. Masculinity is explored in
various directions as the characters try to understand what necessarily makes them a man.
Women and Jacobean gender roles
“Fair and noble hostess” Act 1 Scene 6
“O gentle lady” Act 2 Scene 3
“Lady Macbeth faints or pretends to faint” A2S3
A lot of the male characters are unassuming to Lady Macbeth’s façade, perhaps exposing the myopia
and narrow-mindedness when it comes to women and thus bringing their downfall. Because of this,
Lady Macbeth can manipulate these roles to evade suspicion. It’s therefore easier for Lady Macbeth
to do this because the men in the play believed that men are more inclined to violence than women.
“Do I put up that womanly defence” Act 4 Scene 2
Even women can recognise what is stereotypically expected of them in emotionally distressing
situations, perhaps suggesting that the Jacobean society interpretated femininity as being overly
emotional and sensitive. These ideals lay fertile ground for a cultural shock when the audience
witness the supposedly masculine or more so androgynous characters of Lady Macbeth and the
witches.
“You should be women, yet your beards forbid me” Act 1 Scene 3
Shakespeare uses the witches as an androgynous force throughout the play, perhaps suggesting how
when women attempt to be powerful in the play, they always use masculinity to express their
power. This suggests to me that, in the Jacobean era, masculinity is associated with power and
femininity is inferiority. The witches are rejects of the patriarchal standards.
Men and Jacobean gender roles
“Dispute it like a man” Act 4 Scene 3
“Play the woman with thine eyes” Act 4 Scene 3
“We are men” Act 3 Scene 2
When you durst do it, then you are a man Act 1 Scene 7
Here, masculinity is associated with violence and murder; this interpretation perhaps refers to the
Jacobean ideals of masculinity. This interpretation of masculinity is the sole cause of Macbeth’s
suffering at the hands of Lady Macbeth, the idea that being a man means to be murderous and
violent holds both him and his wife in chokehold until their tragic demise. Also, it also suggests that
masculinity is associated with revenge, or even impulsivity. Malcolm tells Macbeth to not be an
emotional sap and translate his grief into anger and violence.
“But I must also feel like it like as a man” Act 4 Scene 3
“Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee!” Act 4 Scene 3
Macduff believes however that masculinity is not about being emotionless and perhaps about
responsibility. He recognises that he must avenge his family not because that’s the right response
as a man but because it’s the only way he can take responsibility for their senseless murders.
