Masculinity and Cruelty Flashcards
What does Shakespeare criticse through Macbeth?
The lack of power that women have
LM asks for womanhood to be stripped
'’s—- t—- t— —— th—–, u— m- h—-‘’
She wants to be filled with the ‘‘d—– c—–’’
'’t— m- m— f– g—-‘’
’‘spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here
'’direst cruelty’‘
'’take my milk for galls’‘
Shakespeare could be arguing that women who want power are forced to behave in these unnatural ways and this results in them being rejected from society
Macbeth on killing Duncan…
'’I d—- d- — t— ma- b— a — - w– d— do more – —’’
‘‘I dare do all that may become a man - who dares do more is none’’
He is claiming that regicide would be a step too far. Shakespeare is asking here, if society celebrates a cruel form of masculinity, which Macbeth showed in battle and was praised for, isn’t it a small stept o continue this savagery into the rest of life?
Perhaps this Patriarchal society is forcing men to become more violent to fit with the status quo.
Who does Shakespeare use to question what it really means to be a man?
How does he do this?
Macduff
When Macduff’s family dies, Malcolm tells him to ‘‘dispute it like a man’’
Macduff, in turn, responds with ‘‘But I almost must feel it as a man’’. This is Shakespeare arguing that men should also be compassionate.
Who, in the end of the play, learns Shakespeare’s lesson about masculinity?
How is this shown?
'’H-‘s w— m— s—- A– th– I’ll s—- f– h—’’
Malcolm learns this lesson, and responds to Siward’s lack fo feeling for his son’s death with, ‘‘He’s worth more sorrow, And that I’ll spend for him’’
Why does Shakespeare make Malcolm learn the lesson about Masculinity?
Shakespeare intentionally makes Malcolm learn this lesson about masculinity as Malcolm is about to become King, he may be trying to send an encrypted message to King James I: this is what a man should be, this is what a King should be.
He doesn’t want King James I to become a tyrant like Macbeth, but more compassionate King like Malcolm, (AO3) particularly due to the opression of the Catholics during the Jacobean era.
