MACBETH

MANHOOD AND MASCULINITY

By: Ray Pinter

 “COME, YOU SPIRITS THAT TEND ON MORTAL
THOUGHTS, UNSEX ME HERE” (1.5.40-41).

This quote spoken by Lady Macbeth portrays how she is willing and wanting to
give up her femininity and become a man, all for the sake of the plot against King
Duncan. She directly opposes the common Elizabethan idea that women are
nurturers and givers of life. Lady Macbeth hands over these beliefs that she may
join in the assassination of Duncan and become a taker of life. This quote shows
how Lady Macbeth takes on the role of the man, which is described further on in
the play through the interactions with her husband Macbeth.
“When you durst do it,
then you were a man;
And to be more than
what you were, you
would Be so much Social Hierarchy
more the man” (1.7.49-
51).
In this quote Lady Macbeth is Lady
manipulating her husband Macbeth
Macbeth by speaking of his
manhood. She gains more and
more control over Macbeth as the
play goes on. This shows how
Lady Macbeth usurps Macbeth’s
Macbeth
position as the head of the house
and claims it for herself. By
doing this, she is contradicting the
accepted social hierarchy of the
Elizabethan Age which stated that
men were above women in the
household.
 “YOU DO UNBEND YOUR NOBLE
STRENGTH, TO THINK SO BRAINSICKLY OF
THINGS” (2.2.44-45).
In this quote, Lady Macbeth is scolding Macbeth for being afraid and
childlike when he images he hears a voice. This portrays how Macbeth is
degrading into the state of a weakling while Lady Macbeth rises in
authority. The couple has switched roles, defying the normal trends of the
day.
“My hands are of your color, but I
shame to wear a heart so white”
(2.2.63-64).

Lady Macbeth ridicules

Macbeth for behaving so
weak and naïve. He is
supposed to be a man who is
brave and fearless, but
instead he cowers like an
infant. This describes how it
was expected for men to be
courageous and undaunted.
However, Macbeth has lost
his manly status.
“O, THESE FLAWS AND STARTS, IMPOSTERS TO TRUE FEAR,
WOULD WELL BECOME A WOMAN’S STORY AT A WINTER’S
FIRE, AUTHORIZED BY HER GRANDAM” (3.4.64-67).

During a banquet Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost and is greatly

shaken by its visitation. Lady Macbeth openly chides and scorns
Macbeth in front of all the lords for his outburst, saying that he is
acting like a woman. This depicts how the Macbeths’ switch in
masculine role has grown more blatant that they display it publicly.
It also portrays how Macbeth is being reduced into the character of a
whimsical, old woman.
“I am so much a fool, should I
stay longer It would be my
disgrace and your discomfort”
(4.2.27-28).

In this scene, Ross explains to a

distressed Lady Macduff that he
must leave or else he will begin to
cry, which would be unmanly and
make her uncomfortable. This
interaction is significant because it
is a complete contrast to Macbeth
and his wife. Ross is a true man
who, according to custom, cannot
cry in front of an emotional women.
It is used as a foil to the roles of the
Macbeths in order to show real the
way men and women were to
behave at that time.
“FIE, MY LORD, FIE! A SOLDIER AND AFEARD?

During this quote, Lady Macbeth is

reliving the assassination of King
Duncan in a sleep walk. It is
important because it reveals how
Lady Macbeth, even after going
insane, still holds her masculine
demeanor. Even in her sleep she still
dominates Macbeth and demotes him
by calling him a coward. This
portrays the total transition of Lady
Macbeth into a commanding,
masculine status, and Macbeth
undertaking a weaker, unmanly state
much like a woman.