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Macbeth

“Your royal father’s murdered,” (II.i.101). “Macbeth” is one of William Shakespeare’s

most violent plays. There are so many murders in the play that they are hard to keep track

of. Every murder that occurs happens offstage, so the audience never sees any of them,

but they do know when a murder is about to happen. There is a trend throughout the

entire play, one that is not very obvious to the naked eye. Shakespeare brings up the

question of manliness throughout the play, and shortly after the subject is brought up, a

murder will occur. Manliness has a different definition between the characters though, and

Macbeth gives other characters, like Macduff, a bad name.

Issues of gender and manliness are frequent problems that dwell in the characters

of “Macbeth”. Lady Macbeth is a very strong, free-willed women, and uses these

characteristics to manipulate her husband when questioning his manhood. “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,”(I.vii.49-51). Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband, saying that he

wouldn’t be a man if he didn’t kill Duncan. She also tells him that if she were a man that

she would kill Duncan herself, but she can’t

. . .

Macduff’s eloquent words and complex thoughts give a climax to

the theme of manliness. Macduff revises the previous definition of manliness and brings

forth a new one. Macbeth manipulates the actual

truth to make the murderers question their manhood. Macduff changes the audience’s perspective on the

definition of manliness. Macbeth also blames all

of the murderer’s hardships on Banquo, saying that if they wanted to better their family

and their social status they would have to kill Banquo. Macduff

reflects on his family and the sin that Macbeth has committed, and asks the heavens to

help guide him through the journey that he is about to face.

Macbeth uses manipulation himself when he questions the manhood of the murders

of Banquo, “Not i’ th’ worst rank of manhood, say’t,”(III. Malcolm learns a lesson

about manliness from Macduff and shows his maturity at the end of the play. He also says that he must take time to grieve like all men should.

Macbeth shows his last act of manliness when he tries to kill Macduff. Macbeth’s definition of manliness is influenced by Lady Macbeth’s constant

manipulation. Macduff is obviously

hurt deeply by the murders of his wife and children, and does agree that he will seek

revenge.

Approximate Word count = 906
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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