ENGLIT MACBETH masculinity quotes

Question 1

How is masculinity presented in I.2?

Answer 1

“bloody execution” “worthy gentleman”

• killing enemies in a gruesome way and killing a large amount is seen as something that should be praised
• this immediately creates the world that Macbeth is set in is one that is very violent and masculine
• to be seen as a worthy man, you have to prove yourself in battle

Question 2

Why is LM attacking Macbeth’s masculinity in I.7 the most significant?

Answer 2

“when you durst do it, then you were a man”

• Macbeth’s reputation is founded on being a brave and noble warrior in battle and is the reason the people of Scotland like him so much
• he has no response to this

Question 3

How is masculinity shown in IV.3?

Answer 3

• Malcolm tells Macduff to “dispute it like a man” when Macduff finds out his family has been killed
• Macduff responds by saying he should “feel it as a man” which could hint that Macduff thinks that men can be sensitive too
• Macduff could be seen as teaching Malcolm how to be a good king and how to be a good man

Question 4

How is masculinity shown in V.9?

Answer 4

• siward only cares that his song died bravely “like a man”
• Malcolm says that “he’s worth more sorrow”, shows that being a man means more than being violent and aggressive, learnt his lesson masculinity from Macduff

Question 5

Why doesn’t Macbeth deny LM when she wants him to kill Duncan?

Answer 5

• he doesn’t want to seem unmanly or a coward

- throughout the play, Macbeth and LM link masculinity with strength and courage

Question 6

How does LM achieve her ambitions through this society?

Answer 6

takes place in a violent, male-dominated society, so LM can only achieve what she wants through Macbeth

Question 7

How does Duncan make the audience question their views on masculinity in I.4?

Answer 7

“my plenteous joys, wanton in fullness, seek to hide themselves in drops of sorrow”

• not afraid to show emotion
• shows “drops of sorrow” because he’s so happy and talks about his “gentle senses” which could be seen as unmanly
• doesn’t have the qualities that other characters associate with masculinity, Shakespeare shows he’s kind, fair and generous
• this makes the audience question whether a good man has to be a violent warrior or not

Question 8

How do Macbeth and LM most often discuss masculinity?

Answer 8

• often only see masculinity as naked agression
• whenever they discuss about manhood, violence shortly follows
• their understanding of manhood allows the political order of the play to descend into chaos