Shakespeare's Macbeth
William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, deals with the issue of manhood in a slightly unconventional way. Instead of presenting a protagonist who conveys the true nature of manhood through his every action and thought, Shakespeare presents his audience with Macbeth, a character who is forced to struggle with the definition of manhood throughout the entire play. In addition to Macbeth, Shakespeare also presents his audience with the varying viewpoints of different men and even women of the play as to what true manhood is. By noting these different perceptions, the reader is able to make general observations about manhood, that it is intricately related to strength, that it can be displayed through feats of courage, and other types of similar observations. However, it is difficult to reach any one conclusion as to how Shakespeare defines manhood in Macbeth. Interestingly enough, it is quite possible that this is Shakespeare's very intent. Shakespeare challenges his audience to derive their own definition of manhood. By doing this, Shakespeare drives home the point loud and clear: every man must obtain his own conclusion about manhood from within himself. In order to be a true man, it is necessary to follow ones own definition of wha
Perhaps the greatest example of loss in Macbeth is Macduff's loss of his entire family. They say he parted well and paid his score. Losing something dear forces a man to acknowledge the importance of that which he has lost and reinforces his will to protect what he still has. Through his struggles and his losses, Macbeth realizes that in order to find an answer, he must look within himself. For Macduff, being a man means dealing with the loss of his family by protecting their memory through vengeance. Courage has many different levels and facets. His will to protect is focused on preserving his son's memory by honoring him with pride, and not with lamentations. In order to be true to oneself, one must derive his own conclusions and beliefs in life from his own experiences and trials. Macbeth is unable to achieve manhood at this point because he does not seek to surpass his own limitations and follow his own definition of courage, but allows himself to be swayed by Lady Macbeth's pursuit of her own view of manhood through him. Macbeth attempts to reassure himself of this when he says, "Prithee peace! I dare do all that may become a man; who dares do more is none" (I,vii,46-8). In addition to courage, manhood is also revealed by the way an individual deals with loss. Sinful Macduff, they were all struck for thee!" (IV,iii,223-7). It shows a possession of security and assurance in ones own values and consistency in ones character.
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