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In order to discuss masculinity in Macbeth, we should first define what masculinity is. Traditionally, especially during Shakespeare’s time, traits of masculinity would include power, initiative, violence, authority, and logic. Macbeth himself does not really show off many of these qualities, at least not at first. Rather, it is his wife, Lady Macbeth, who pushes him into embracing these aspects. She is the one who encourages Macbeth to murder the king and become king himself. After all, the mysterious witches’ prediction that he would become the Thane of Cawdor ended up coming true, so why wait for the prediction that he would become king to pass when it could happen now? Strangely enough, Lady Macbeth actually shows more masculine traits than Macbeth throughout the play, at least through the beginning. As the play continues, Macbeth himself ends up embodying more of these masculine traits while Lady Macbeth fades into the background as she descends into mania trying to wash out the perceived blood on her hands. Overall, Macbeth is, at its core, a play about not just masculinity, but what it means to be masculine and whether or not our perception of masculinity is something that we want to or should be. Lady Macbeth challenges the idea of masculinity by doing masculine things with a distinctly feminine touch through her manipulation of her husband not living up to the expectations of him based on gender. If a lust for strength and power is something expected of all men, so much so that they start to see violence as a necessary part of obtaining more, what then? Is that really something that you would want to be? I think that Macbeth really encourages the reader to challenge their ideas of masculinity and what it means to be a “man”, hopefully for the better.

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I think masculinity as it pertains to Lady Macbeth is really interesting. Her ambition and willingness to kill/cover up murder are stereotypically masculine traits, but the way she goes about enacting these ambitions has to be stereotypically feminine (manipulation) distinctly because she's not a man. When she wishes to be "unsexed," it's because as a woman, her faculties are severely limited. She wants the ability to do something directly, which in this time is a masculine trait. She's also assertive and strong-willed in a way that's usually attributed to men. Macduff, by contrast, is more stereotypically feminine. He grieves his family's murders and doesn't immediately leap to anger when frankly, the ability to turn any negative emotion into rage has long been a hallmark of masculinity. Malcolm has to prompt that rage out of him, which I think is really interesting.

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Masculinity in Macbeth honestly feels kind of messy and not like one clear definition, more like something the characters are constantly trying to prove to each other. At the beginning, Macbeth is seen as the ideal man, he is brave, loyal, and respected for how he fights in battle, and that version of masculinity is tied to honor. But once the witches introduce the idea of him becoming king, that starts to shift, and it becomes less about honor and more about power and how far someone is willing to go to get it. A huge turning point is when Lady Macbeth questions his manhood, because she basically convinces him that if he does not go through with killing Duncan then he is not really a man, which shows how masculinity in the play can be used as pressure or manipulation. Macbeth already has doubts, but instead of trusting his own judgment, he gives in because he feels like he has something to prove, and after that his idea of being a man just keeps getting more extreme. It turns into this need to stay in control and eliminate any threats, which is why he orders more murders and becomes more paranoid as the play goes on. What makes it interesting though is that not every character follows that same version of masculinity, because Banquo hears the same prophecy but chooses not to act on it, which shows a more controlled and thoughtful kind of strength, and Macduff is probably the clearest contrast since he openly shows emotion after his family is killed and even says that feeling grief is part of being a man, which goes directly against the idea that men are supposed to be cold or emotionless. By the end, it feels like the play is showing that Macbeth’s version of masculinity, the one based on violence and power, actually destroys him, while characters like Macduff show that real strength can include emotion and morality at the same time.

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Throughout Macbeth, the theme of masculinity portrays itself in different and unconventional ways. A most notable observation is how power and dominance is obtained through violent means. This kind of aggression is typically portrayed in male characters or associated with masculine traits; however, here, these qualities are initially introduced in a woman. At the start of the play, Macbeth appears to be a morally noble man before the idea of power is prophesied to him and ultimately leads to his downfall. This desire for power clouds him and his wife's judgement (most notably Lady Macbeth, as it is she who puts the idea of the king's murder in her husband's mind). Lady Macbeth challenges these traditional gender roles by being outwardly domineering as opposed to weak and subservient like women were expected to be in a time period heavily dominated by patriarchal values. It’s Macbeth himself who is initially uncertain and apprehensive about the prophecy before her manipulation. This is only reinforced when Lady Macbeth tells Hamlet, “What beast was’t, then, / That made you break this enterprise to me? / 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” (1.7.56). After following Lady Macbeth's plan, Macbeth becomes a power hungry ruler whose paranoia leads to the deaths of his allies and those he cares about.

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My first thought-not necessarily my most thought out or novel perspective-is that the character Macbeth is easily manipulated.

My daughters were visiting this weekend and I asked them what they thought about the premise. I am assured by my middle daughter Bridget (Minor in Women’s Studies) that any possible negative aspect concerning manipulation is a “masculine” attribute, not one fairly associated with women qua women. I don’t agree that manipulation is a definitively masculine trait-in fact, I may more associate the trait with female literary characters more than male (admittedly written predominantly by men)-cherche la femme. My youngest daughter was very quick to add that to be manipulative requires intelligence and men are not as smart as women to be as good at manipulation. (Katie says, “You may quote me on that.”) A fair accounting required me to ask my eldest daughter-the English major and the first of the three to have read “Macbeth for Kids.” Christine thinks that the play Macbeth is more about what happens to Macbeth than about who is Macbeth. She describes it as more angst than agency. Macbeth struts and frets his way through the play reacting and responding rather than (willingly) taking the reins-not at all conducive to one who reigns.

While I’m tripping down memory lane, here’s a true story: When reading Macbeth in high school, Ms. Krogstadt asked the inevitable question, “What is Macbeth’s tragic flaw?” The first answer was “He’s too dependent on his

conscience.” With characteristic patience, Ms. Krogstadt noted that having a conscience would generally not fit the description of a tragic flaw. The second answer was “He’s too easily manipulated.” Closer, but not quite there. We weren’t (all that) stupid-boys or girls. We got to “ambition” quickly enough and moved on. So, allow me to move on.

Macbeth is a profoundly weak person outside of the battlefield. When he is not being badgered into murder by his wife, he’s being misled to the point of lunacy by three hags. I would aver that’s quintessential manipulation. All the while he’s seemingly ambitious (His ambition is only self-described: “To prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition.” I. VII.) while cognizant of his weaknesses, his insecurity, and his guilt. He goes from a highly respected tough guy (pre-play) to a philosopher by the last act: “Life’s but a walking shadow; a poor player…” Maybe I’d go back and argue that Macbeth is more about angst than agency-that his tragic flaw is that he is too easily manipulated. Macbeth is back on his game toward the end of the play. When he is again in battle (his element) he goes full bore-into his military masculinity “I’ll fight, till from my bones my flesh be hackt.” V.III; “…At least we’ll die with harness on our back.” V.V., he doesn’t seem to recognize how abhorrent he has been throughout: “I dare do all that may become a man, Who dares do more is none.” I.VII. Serial murder does not become a man.

Malcolm and Donalbain are each a bit cowardly-running out of the country when the going gets tough. Macduff shows some sense of completeness—a decent enough man, both in strength and sensitivity “But I must also feel it as a man.” His “only” flaw was leaving his family exposed to a horrible end. Thanks, Dad! Malcolm recovers to an extent, closing the play with a semblance of leadership by “setting things right” which may be more form than substance. It is assumed that Duncan was a good king, thus a good man I guess. Aside from him, there is a notable dearth of positive masculinity in the play.

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I think masculinity has certain arbitrary signifiers such as power, confidence, and strength. Which when looking at masculinity through this lens instead of gender, it can apply to both man and female. In the play, Macbeth is a highly decorated war hero. One who is praised for his violent efforts in battle. This would relay to his strength, both physical and mental. Physically, we learn Macbeth is a character who can overpower other men and strategically fight in battle. Mentally, Macbeth is strong enough to take an individual life. At this point in the play, Macbeth is an embodiment of masculinity through strength. When Macbeth is approached by the three witches, they speak of a prophecy in which Macbeth will be the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and eventually King. He brushes it off until he is shortly after titled Thane of Cawdor due to his military success. Seeing the prophecy come alive, Macbeth develops this yearning for power. He is already an individual holding some status; thus further establishing a sense of power. You could also argue that Macbeth acting on this drive for power is a masculine trait. Throughout history, we see Kings battle for absolute power, or men fighting for ultimate power one way or another. Macbeth acting purely on desire to ascend the throne, and not logistics, can be seen as masculine. This point then gives Lady Macbeth a masculine trait. Lady Macbeth is who convinces Macbeth to kill King Duncan. This violent drive and decision goes against femininity. Furthering this point, is when Lady Macbeth plants the evidence and "gets her hands dirty". Women are typically signified as cleanly, neat, fragile, etc. These two contrasts show how masculinity does not belong solely to the gender of male. Macbeth has some sort of femininity (more like morality) in not wanting to kill King Duncan. After Lady Macbeth convinces him to do so, it's like this moral switch is shut off and Macbeth embraces this violent nature.

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As I am presenting on Thursday, partially on this topic, I've thought a lot about the masculinities in the play, but in reverse with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is a man; thus, he is expected to be heroic in battle and the head of his marriage, giving orders to his wife. Yet Macbeth does not display typical masculine traits; he is rather cowardly and not headstrong, despite the praise readers hear about him as a ruthless conqueror of his enemies in the first two acts. Lady Macbeth is the wife of a thane with no children, not something we commonly see in Shakespeare's plays. Besides that, she exhibits more "masculine" traits than her husband, as she is (clearly) intelligent, cunning, and calculated. She reads the letter from Macbeth and instantly knows what needs to be done: kill Duncan to fulfill the prophecy. She knows that these traits are not commonly associated with her gender and the societal roles she is supposed to fill, which is why she tells Macbeth what to do and insists that she will help him succeed in killing the king. Her speech about getting rid of her breasts and "unsexing her" is very powerful as it shows she is taken on a role that does not fit her gender, instead taking the lead that a man like Macbeth should have automatically taken. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth show masculinity in different ways and times throughout the play. Macbeth is initially scared to kill Duncan, but once he does, we see him take control of his power situation and sends other characters to be killed in his paranoia, whereas Lady Macbeth is now opposed. In this, Macbeth regains his masculine aspect while the reader sees Lady Macbeth take a step back and fit into a woman's role, feeling guilty about what they had done as her husband continues to "kill".

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Gender and masculinity is one of the most fascinating ways to look at literature, it is always something I think is worth noting and looking at, Macbeth is a great one, Macbeth himself is a titular example of a masculine individual, someone pushed to the extremes of masculinity and the performance of gender. As mentioned in the chapter for this week, Macbeth is the pinnacle of power and strength when he is introduced by stories, stories that amplify this power, show in extreme what he has accomplished as a hero. This later comes back to curse him, this power on the battlefield has no power in the home and will ultimately be his downfall, while I believe he was doomed from the second the witches speak to him, I think the moment his plan falls apart is his deviation, the murder of the guards. It takes a specific kind of person to put into work the plans Macbeth and Lady Macbeth did and he was not one who could have, he was overcome but the bloodlust in warriors rather than provoked by simply the greed of a villainous man, he makes for a poor strategist because he is an Achilles, not an Odysseus. He is a warrior and a very powerful one, not a strategist that can think of a plan and put it into work without later falling to his own masculine intensity. In addition, Lady Macbeth is a partner to him, not an unwilling accomplice, not a woman that had no idea what he was doing, but her gender is also her limitation, as a woman she has expectations and internalized behaviors that will ultimately be her downfall, she does not have the same intense masculinity he does and therefore cannot “screw her courage to the sticking place” and falls apart when faced with the consequences while Macbeth’s masculinity makes him in turn double down on his actions and continue to kill.

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When I hear about masculinity i think about power and the power one has over others. This is present within Macbeth within the titular character and how he takes power for himself at the beginning of the play after killing Duncan and enticed with the prospect of becoming king. Though within Macbeth's masculinity he falters when truly finishing off Duncan, his wife Lady Macbeth has to "man up" herself to finish the Job so she can ensure that her husband can take power for himself. Throughout the play Macbeth's masculinity is questioned especially with how un man like he acts when especially with how throughout the play he is very paranoid about losing his power which is what drives him to further killing especially of Banquo when he learns that his lineage will become kings which he interprets as usurping him as king so to keep his masculinity as king he has Banquo killed. Going back into the paranoia of Macbeth this does extend into lady Macbeth which i see as a form of Shakespeare writing that lady Macbeth as a woman could not handle the masculinity of killing which then drove her mad. This role of masculinity within the Macbeth family is an interesting thing to look at because at the end of the day Lady Macbeth displays more masculine traits throughout the entire play than her husband who ends up becoming king of the nation is still scared of ghosts, and hallucinations which haunted him throughout the play. With how this play, plays with masculinity it was very loose with the concept and uses it to be introspective about the characters looking into Macbeth's regrets and how those haunt him until his death at the end of the play. Macbeth spends the entire play, working to achieve and eventually subverting the fate of the three witches their prophecies is what gave him this masculine right to rule and when he was told that he would lose it he began panicking because being powerful and controlling, over the nation being a masculine representation of the nation is what Macbeth works to preserve the entire play before eventually failing.

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When I first hear the word “masculinity,” I think of a stereotypical male who is strong and can come off as someone hungry for power. However, when looking at Macbeth, the idea of masculinity means something completely different. After reading Essential Shakespeare, I realized that both men and women demonstrate masculine traits throughout the play. A great example of someone who has those masculine traits is Lady Macbeth. Yes, she is not a male, but she does hold a lot of control over Macbeth and the actions and choices that he makes in the play. When it comes to murdering King Duncan to move up in the social class, she was the main master mind behind the plan, and all she asked her husband to do was murder Macbeth. After the murder, Macbeth was filled with guilt, and Lady Macbeth had to remind him not to be weak and had to finish out the rest of the plan. Going back to what I said earlier, how masculinity could relate to power, and I feel like Macbeth could correlate with this idea as well. Yes, he and Lady Macbeth both wanted to improve their social status, but Macbeth was the one who let greed control his mind. Macbeth sacrificed everything in his life to be successful. Now, I can also say that Macbeth showed more signs of cowardice than masculinity. One example of it can be after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth was unable to sleep, which caused him to start hallucinating, and those hallucinations started to become almost like reality to him. This leads to him murdering Banquo and attempting to murder his son. He stabbed him in the back, literally, and this led him to feel regret about hiring his men to murder him because right after the murder, he starts to hallucinate that he is right there with him, and this guilt starts to consume his life. In short, I feel like masculinity can be something that can be defined in both men and women, but in Macbeth, I feel like Lady Macbeth demonstrated it better than Macbeth did.