GENDER Flashcards
how is the theme gender explored
through the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth who are both powerful characters but display their power in different ways
how does Macbeth express his power
through violence - he wins the title Thane of cawdor in a battle he wins the crown through murder
how does Lady Macbeth show power
through words which manipulate and control her husband to achieve her ambition
how are the traditional gender roles disrupted
Lady Macbeth sees femininity as a barrier to getting what she wants and wishes for more masculine traits and cruelty
when do we see evidence of the gender roles being reversed
when Lady Macbeth mocks her husbands lack of masculinity and takes control of him
which other characters show gender reversal
the witches have a masculine appearance Banqo was confused by their beards
where does Shakespeare reveal a more sensitive side to masculinity
when Macduff learns of his sons death Malcom tells him to “take it like a man” but Macduff responds he must “feel it as a man”
context
1 All positions of power in Britain at the time were held by men
2 women were treated as property - they belonged to their fathers until married then to their husbands whom they were expected to obey at all times
how does Lady Macbeth contraversially show she breaks the traditional rules of gender at the time (4)
1she has the dominant role in the marriage
2 she controls her husband
3 she rejects womanhood and takes on masculine traits “ unsex me here” she wants rid of her female characteristics because she believes they are getting in the way of her ambition
4 she shows no maternal insticts - even saying she would kill her own child “ dashed the brains out” - shocking imagery shows how ruthless she is
5 she mocks her husband “then you were a man” implies he has lost his manhood by being a coward
how would Macbeths character be viewed
seen as weak and flawed because he allows his wife to control and dictate to him
which 2 attitudes to masculinity does Shakespeare explore
1 Macbeth argues a man who isn’t honourable is not a real man
2 Lady Macbeth argues being a man means doing whatever it takes to get what you want
how is Macbeth presented as a coward
“If i should fail” -this is less manly he is not sure of himself and relies on his wife to tell him what to do
how is he shown later as being braver
he takes action himself to kill Banquo
overall what does Shakespeare show about gender
that men and women can be very different to the expected stereotypes, men can be weak and cowardly women cruel and powerful
