Theme- Gender

Question 1

characters

Answer 1

Lady Macbeth
- Challenges and manipulates gender roles. Rejects feminine traits (compassion, gentleness) to gain power.
- Associates masculinity with violence and ambition.

Macbeth
- Struggles with the idea of manhood—torn between conscience and society’s expectations of masculinity (courage, dominance, action).
- Equates manliness with ruthless ambition.

The Witches
- Ambiguous gender presentation. Bearded women who defy gender norms. Their power and otherness suggest fear of female authority.

Macduff
- Offers a more balanced masculinity—brave, but emotionally expressive. Challenges toxic expectations of being a man.

Question 2

quotations and analysis

Answer 2

“Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here…”
- Lady Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 5)
Analysis: Lady Macbeth calls on spirits to remove her femininity—associating being female with weakness and asking for the strength to commit murder.

“When you durst do it, then you were a man.”
- Lady Macbeth (Act 1, Scene 7)
Analysis: She manipulates Macbeth by questioning his masculinity. This quote shows how gender roles are used to pressure others into violence and ambition.

“Are you a man?”
- Lady Macbeth (Act 3, Scene 4)
Analysis: After Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost, Lady Macbeth shames him for his fear. Again, masculinity is linked to emotional suppression and strength.

“Dispute it like a man.” / “I shall do so; / But I must also feel it as a man.”
- Malcolm & Macduff (Act 4, Scene 3)
Analysis: Macduff balances grief and vengeance. Shakespeare redefines masculinity here—not just as aggression, but emotional honesty.

“You should be women, / And yet your beards forbid me to interpret / That you are so.”
- Banquo (Act 1, Scene 3)
Analysis: The witches defy gender norms, appearing both male and female. Their androgyny links to their mystical power and threat to natural order.

Question 3

summary

Answer 3

Shakespeare critiques rigid gender roles, showing how they are manipulated or rejected in pursuit of power.

Lady Macbeth subverts femininity to gain influence, but ultimately suffers emotional collapse.

Macbeth equates masculinity with violence, which leads to his downfall.

The play suggests that true strength comes from emotional balance, not blind aggression (Macduff).

The witches’ gender ambiguity adds to their mystery and danger, reflecting anxiety about women in positions of influence.