The Conflict Of Gender Roles In Shakespeare's Macbeth

I believe that the critical lens that provides modern society with the most compelling view of literature is Feminist Criticism because it analyzes distrust and disloyalty among relationships, women being treated as possessions and shows the representation of powerful women. Modern society would analyze literature using a feminist perspective because most literature analyzes the relationship between genders and the powerful influence and meaning it has to the readers life. Othello is a great play to analyze with many different types of literature criticisms, but Feminist Criticism analyzes the plot and the main characters situation most. It is still so common to see many of the points presented in the book till this day, men believing that they are stronger than women and treating them as inferior. Even so women are trying to make their voice be heard and demonstrating everyday the vital impact they have in society.

Although they view each other as equals, "my dearest partner of greatness," it's Lady Macbeth who is established as the dominant partner in the dynamic, inverting typical 17th century gender and social roles. (Since husbands were supposed to rule their wives in the same way that kings ruled countries, Lady Macbeth's plan is just another version of treason: taking power that doesn't belong to her.) Upon reading the letter, she worries that Macbeth is too kind-natured to be able to take the crown and is determined to assist him through the, "valour of her (my) tongue." She emasculates Macbeth and challenges his bravery, which to him is the essence of a being a man, "coward." Compelling her husband by giving him an ultimatum, be a coward or kill the king.

Many people overlook the relationship between revenge and gender stereotypes. Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, explores a society in which women are objectified and the need for truth and revenge is highlighted throughout the play. In this play, women are looked at as inferior to men, and men need to make the final decision in all matters whereas women are supposed to oblige. Revenge gets handled very differently for both genders, and the relationship between revenge and gender can be seen through different characters’ quests to gain vengeance. By using women to further their goals, it can be seen that the men in Hamlet degrade women and are constantly using women for their own vengeful benefit.

Lady Macbeth persuades and manipulates Macbeth by pointing out his insecurities successfully and pressuring him into murdering the king. Along with this, Lady Macbeth also questions Macbeth’s manhood and masculinity when he does not want to carry out the plan when she says “When you durst do it, then you were a man;//And to be more than what you were, you would//Be so much more the man” (Shakespeare 1.7.49-51). By saying these things, Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to believe that murdering the king will be his redemption from being a

Lady Macbeth is influenced by Macbeth as she receives a letter from him discussing the predictions of the weird sisters. Demonstrating the possibility of becoming Macbeth evokes the desire of power within Lady Macbeth. However, Lady Macbeth is not strongly influenced by Macbeth but, her own ambition pushes her to devise horrific plans such as framing the chamberlains. Lady Macbeth instead influences Macbeth as she judges his manhood and triggers the evolution in his character. In contrast, the creature receives hate from mankind and is taught to hate humans back as they judge him by his appearance as they attack or run away from him.

In our world, manipulation takes place in everyday life as a natural impulse for both men and women. In Macbeth, manipulation is centralized around the mask of ambition displaying dominance over humanity. Certainly the witch’s, Lady Macbeth, and our fallen hero Macbeth become puppets of Manipulation it self. Consequently the witch’s power to influence decision-making causes the initial deterioration of Macbeth, along with Lady Macbeth’s influential desire for the throne, and thus Macbeth use of manipulation to create a new embodiment of a mask suffused in ambition for his own cruel deeds. After the victory of Banquo and Macbeth against the king 's traitor Macdonwald the witches presence contract the vibe of manipulation seeking Macbeth as its next victim.

For Shakespeare’s plays to contain enduring ideas, it must illustrate concepts that still remain relevant today, in modern society. Shakespeare utilises his tragic play Othello, to make an important social commentary on the common gender stereotypes. During early modern England, Shakespeare had to comply to the strict social expectations where women were viewed as tools, platonic and mellow, and where men were displayed as masculine, powerful, tempered, violent and manipulative. As distinct as this context is to the 21st century, the play exposes how women were victimised by the men who hold primary power in the community in which they compelled women to conform to the ideal world of a perfect wife or confront an appalling destiny for challenging the system. Moreover, Shakespeare utilises the main antagonist, Iago, to portray how men are desperate to achieve what they want and to indirectly fulfil the stereotype of masculinity and power through manipulation.

Macduff now feels as if he has to kill Macbeth for revenge. He also feels like he has to prove that he is masculine to Malcolm. In the end Lady Macbeth. Macbeth, Malcolm, and Macduff all make comments about gender roles and how genders should act in society. It is very interesting to read this play because people have been questioning gender roles in society a ton recently, so it is fascinating to see what Shakespeare wrote 400 years ago.

The original rendition is said to have been told to convey two morals: the first, warned female readers against the dangers of curiosity; the second, warned husbands against expecting the impossible from their wives (Sheets 1991:643). Carter has however adapted the original story to appeal to the modern reader and provide some personal commentary on social issues. She also gave it her own controversial twist, by making the husband a murderer, and what some might refer to as a pervert. As Sheets accurately states, “Carter situates the story in the tradition of aesthetic sadomasochism” (Sheets 1991:643). Throughout the story the heroine notices various erotic art forms in the castle.

These subtle facts set up the reader for Eve causing the downfall of mankind. After Eve messes everything up for mankind and God speaks to them, he tells her she will forever reign underneath her husband and how Adam is mostly being punished for listening to Eve. “Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply by thy conception; children thou shalt bring in sorrow forth, and to thy Husband’s will thine shalt submit, hee over thee” (Book 10, lines 193-196). This line portrays Milton’s explanation for the making of the patriarchy and the answer is as simple as there is a patriarchy because God saw it as right. Although modern society has been slowly moving away from this idea, there are fundamental things that men can do that women cannot, as well as things women can do that men cannot.