The title of this paper is “The Construction of Femininity and Masculinity in Shakespeare`s Macbeth". As this title suggests, I analyzed how Shakespeare construes female and male identity in Macbeth. As in many Shakespearean dramas the play starts with the destruction of order leading up to a crisis and ending in the restoration of order at the end of the play (Gelfert 32). The political order that is destroyed in the course of the play is King Duncan`s natural and fair order which appreciates a unique set of masculine and feminine values. Macbeth murders King Duncan in order to usurp his throne. Macbeth`s reign turns Duncan`s order into chaos and moral order cannot return to Scotland until the tyrant ruler Macbeth is defeated by troops who fight for the restoration of Duncan`s order, through the coronation of his son Malcolm.
This essay deals with the question of how Shakespeare shapes female and male characters. As a matter of fact, female and male characters are ultimately involved in the destruction and restoration of Scotland. This involves questions such as:
Which historical concepts does Shakespeare use to construe his male and female
characters?
Does he construe “typical” gender roles?
And what happens when gender boundaries are crossed, when men develop feminine traits
and women male ones? With special regard to the marriage of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, I also analyzed the interaction between the genders. In the course of my analysis, I used the term “gender”, originating from Anglo-American feminist discourse, meaning ”the social, cultural, and psychological meaning imposed upon biological sexual identity” (Showalter 1-2). Interpreting femininity and masculinity as “gender” constructions allows a more thorough analysis of the various processes involved in the “making” of men and women. Whilst the term “sex” suggests that children naturally acquire the appropriate masculine or feminine behavioural norms of their society, the term “gender” can also
indicate that some people feel discrepancies between their “anatomical sex and experiential sense of gender and sexuality” (Showalter 2). After a short historical introduction about the origins of the play, I analyzed the masculine world of chivalry that the play takes place in. Understanding the world of chivalry, its values and codes is required as most of the male characters are construed as chivalrous knights serving in the corps of King Duncan.
Enjoy!
Table of Contents
- Foreword
- The Sources of the Play
- Masculinity in Shakespeare's Macbeth
- The Values of Chivalry
- The Duties of Chivalrous Knights
- King Duncan's "Natural Order"
- Macbeth's Development from Scotland's Saviour to Scotland's Criminal King and Bloody Tyrant
- Sterility as the Underlying Reason for Macbeth's Violence
- Banquo: Perfect Knight or Villain?
- Macduff: The Epitome of Chivalry?
- Malcolm: Hope for a Restored “Natural Order”?
- Femininity in Shakespeare's Macbeth
- The Elizabethan Housewife
- Humble Lady Macduff
- Witches as a Social and Political Problem in Shakespeare's England
- Between the Genders: The Witches in Macbeth
- Macbeth and Lady Macbeth: Marital Fulfillment in Regicide
- Conclusion
- Works Cited
- “Erklärung über verwendete Hilfsmittel”
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the construction of femininity and masculinity in Shakespeare's Macbeth, examining how Shakespeare portrays gender roles within the context of the play's destruction and restoration of order. The study investigates the historical concepts used to shape male and female characters, explores whether "typical" gender roles are presented, and considers the consequences of gender boundary crossings. Special attention is given to the Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's marriage and its connection to regicide.
- The impact of historical concepts on the portrayal of gender in Macbeth.
- The depiction of "typical" versus atypical gender roles in the play.
- The consequences of gender boundary crossings and the blurring of gender lines.
- The role of gender in the destruction and restoration of political and moral order.
- The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and its connection to their actions.
Chapter Summaries
The Sources of the Play: This chapter discusses the origins of Macbeth, highlighting its likely first performance in 1606 for King James I. It explores Shakespeare's use of Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles as a source, emphasizing the adaptation and augmentation of the original material to create a compelling plot focused on regicide and its consequences. Shakespeare's alterations are analyzed in terms of their dramatic, thematic, and political purposes, particularly in relation to James I's preferences and beliefs. The chapter explains how Shakespeare streamlined the narrative, focusing on regicide and minimizing aspects like Macbeth's years of rule, ultimately creating a concise and impactful play.
Masculinity in Shakespeare's Macbeth: This section delves into the masculine world of chivalry within the play, establishing the framework for understanding the male characters as chivalrous knights serving King Duncan. It examines the values and codes of chivalry as crucial for interpreting their actions and motivations. The chapter likely explores the characters of Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff, and Malcolm within this chivalric context, tracing their development and analyzing their adherence to, or deviation from, chivalric ideals, potentially focusing on how these ideals are challenged and ultimately redefined throughout the play.
Femininity in Shakespeare's Macbeth: This section shifts the focus to femininity, analyzing the portrayal of women within the play's Elizabethan context. It likely explores the roles of Lady Macbeth, Lady Macduff, and the Witches, examining how their actions and characteristics challenge or reinforce prevailing societal expectations. The chapter likely contrasts the different depictions of femininity, highlighting the complexities and contradictions inherent in the women's roles within the play's narrative of power, ambition, and morality. The analysis probably explores how Shakespeare uses these female figures to comment on the social and political dynamics of his time.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Macbeth, gender, masculinity, femininity, chivalry, regicide, political order, moral order, Elizabethan era, gender roles, marital relationships, witches, Scotland.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Shakespeare's Macbeth
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive overview of a scholarly analysis of gender roles in Shakespeare's Macbeth. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in the analysis of Shakespeare's Macbeth?
The analysis focuses on the construction of masculinity and femininity within the play. It examines how Shakespeare portrays gender roles in relation to the play's themes of destruction and restoration of order, exploring historical concepts of gender, typical versus atypical gender roles, and the consequences of gender boundary crossings. The analysis pays particular attention to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's marriage and its connection to regicide.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the impact of historical concepts on gender portrayal, the depiction of typical and atypical gender roles, the consequences of blurring gender lines, the role of gender in restoring political and moral order, and the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and its connection to their actions.
What are the main chapters covered in the analysis?
The analysis includes chapters on the sources of the play (exploring Shakespeare's use of Holinshed's Chronicles and its adaptation for dramatic and political purposes), masculinity in Macbeth (examining chivalry and the male characters within a chivalric context), and femininity in Macbeth (analyzing the portrayal of women like Lady Macbeth, Lady Macduff, and the Witches within the Elizabethan context).
How does the analysis approach the topic of masculinity in Macbeth?
The analysis examines masculinity through the lens of chivalry, exploring the values and codes of chivalry as they relate to the male characters (Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff, and Malcolm). It traces their development and analyzes their adherence to or deviation from chivalric ideals.
How does the analysis approach the topic of femininity in Macbeth?
The analysis of femininity explores the portrayal of women in the Elizabethan context, focusing on Lady Macbeth, Lady Macduff, and the Witches. It examines how their actions and characteristics challenge or reinforce societal expectations, highlighting complexities and contradictions within their roles in the play's narrative.
What are the key sources used in the analysis?
The primary source is Shakespeare's Macbeth. Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles are cited as a significant source material for the play itself.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include Shakespeare, Macbeth, gender, masculinity, femininity, chivalry, regicide, political order, moral order, Elizabethan era, gender roles, marital relationships, witches, and Scotland.
What is the overall conclusion of the analysis (as indicated in the preview)?
The preview doesn't explicitly state the overall conclusion, but it implies the analysis will offer insights into how Shakespeare constructs gender roles in Macbeth and how these roles relate to the play's themes of power, ambition, and the restoration of order.
- Citar trabajo
- Vinzent Fröhlich (Autor), 2007, The construction of femininity and masculinity in Shakespeare`s Macbeth, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/87513
