Differences Between Macduff And Lady Macbeth

However, when Macbeth returns home from fighting he is greeted with the plan to kill Duncan. At first he refuses to co-operate but his wife manipulates him to change his mind. She throws at him insults, such as ‘once you durst do it, then you were a man’ and to call a man who just fought bravely for his king a coward in a mighty insult. She also throws at him ‘From this time such I account thy love’. At the end, in order to make sure Macbeth does commit the unnatural deed she tells him a disturbing image of her with her newborn child ‘And dash'd the brains out, had I so sworn as you’.

Lady Macduff seems to be content to live her life as the wife of a thane with her health and her family. Lady Macbeth however, feels not only that her husband deserves a better place in life but also that by not working to attain that higher status he is a failure.

Macbeth by William Shakespeare brings about one of the most controversial topic of the gender portrayal in a play. During Shakespearean times, women were considered as the weaker sex, physically and emotionally. On the other hand, men were seen as the dominant sex that is expected to be the head of their households and a strong figure. Unlike this stereotypical representation of men and women, Shakespeare introduces the reversal of gender roles in his play. Shakespeare’s portrayal of the relationship and characteristics of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth diverged from the stereotypical representation of both men and women. The author, William Shakespeare’s use of reverse gender roles which contradicted with the traditional gender roles, is what

This whole idea of female dominance directly challenges the Chain of Beings and as a result, exemplified Lady Macbeth’s importance as Shakespeare’s device to cause fascination amongst audiences. It also shows explicitly her influence on the main character Macbeth and hence the state of the entire play.

Then slowly Macbeth looses his masculine qualities. The witches have a part in him loosing his masculinity. The traditional role of men usually take charge, and wears the pants, but its already clear the Lady Macbeth wears the pants. “ Lady Macbeth appears to be the more freighting figure” (Maternal Power par 1). The role of Macbeth is a friendly person, who is dictated by his wife; She controls his every thought. Its as if he doesn’t make a move without her knowing. She clearly over powers him in every way. The weird sisters also play apart in the gender roles. “ The disruption of gender roles occur in the weird sisters the trio perceived as violating nature and dispute the designation, as sister the gender roles, the characters is also ambiguous” (play with gender role par 3).

Shakespeare grew up in the late 1500s when women were not valued for anything but bearing children and being good wives to their husbands. In Macbeth, this ideal women is represented by Lady Macduff. She is an example of all the positive traits that women possess, such as “devotion” to their family and “[prioritizing] the raising of her children” (Tucker). In Act 4 Scene 2 of Macbeth, we see this kindness and motherliness as she comforts her

Greetings gentlemen of the court, as we have all heard from the prosecution today, my client Macduff, has been accused of an outrages conspiracy to treason. Whilst there is some truth in the contention that, Macduff was absent from the coronation, the claims made by the prosecution to view this situation as an act of treason, is ridiculous.

In the Shakespearean tragedy, Macbeth, Macduff and Ross share their vastly contrasting opinions of Macbeth’s coordination how it changed Macduff’s opinion about Macbeth having a position in leadership and how similar changes in rule affect people today. At the start, Macduff claimed Macbeth did the “more than bloody deed” and Macduff added that Malcolm and Donalbain are the primary suspects because they fled instantly following their father’s homicide, consequently, Macbeth will take the throne. (Shakespeare, 2.4.31). Macduff would not go to his coordination but instead “to Fife” and he claimed earlier that Macbeth killed his predecessor, Duncan. (2.4.50).

The traditional gender role for men and women is a strict set of expectations one must face and either choose to follow or defy it. In the Shakespearian era women portray as the weaker sex because they display as needing protection as the more fragile, innocent, and dependent sex, whereas men have authority as strong, capable, and honourable beings. However, the traditional gender roles play in reversal in Macbeth by William Shakespeare by having Lady Macbeth, the Three Witches (weird sisters), and Macbeth defy the gender roles that allow women and men to portray in a unique way in society. First, Lady Macbeth is defiant to her role as a woman because she is able to take initiative, deceive others, and commit violent acts. Secondly, the three Witches are in fact sisters which avid them to follow their role as women, however they defy their roles because they manipulate others, have the capability to make independent decisions, and kill without hesitation. Finally, Macbeth defies his roles as a man in the Shakespearian era because he acts cowardly, isn’t able to carry out duties himself, and is disloyal to his companions.

Macbeth is known to withhold the strongest theme of gender compared to any of Shakespeare’s other works, gender disconformity articulating the entire plot. Men and women are separated in the text through themes of social expectations, men to be authoritative while women are expected to be compliant and empathetic. The theme articulated shows how these expectations act as barriers towards men and women. Women attempt to change their perception of gender in order to coordinate devious acts while men are influenced to channel “weak” emotions into anger. Contemporary society is still assembled of the same social expectations for women and men evident in Macbeth, which thanks to movements such as feminism, have been slowly dissipated in order to create a society that allows the social, economic and political equality of the genders.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:21). This Bible verse effectively shows the personal desires of Macbeth and Macduff in the play. Macbeth went from being the protagonist to the antagonist due to his ambition for power which leads him to corruption. Macduff however only wants the best for Scotland because he lives his life as a true nobleman. Since Macbeth is solely interested in gaining power, that is where his heart lies. Macduff on the other hand wants what is best for his country. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth and Macduff are two characters who differ to a great extent from one another. Macbeth is deceitful, thinks illogically, and has a dysfunctional home which

The women in Macbeth, namely Lady Macbeth, contradict these expectations through their commanding, and ambitious tones. During that second half of act one Lady Macbeth is portrayed as the ruling figure in the house. Instead of being a grateful and fulfilling housewife she instead pushes and commands Macbeth to commit assassination. She berates him when he falters and asked if he would rather, “live like a coward in thine own esteem.” (Shakespeare)

Gender has always had a rigid social definition, but Macbeth takes the natural roles of gender and blurs the line between them. Lady Macbeth wants to become masculine, and she calls on the supernatural to “unsex” her and fill her with poison. Masculinity is often associated with strength and aggression, which is what Lady Macbeth wants in order to fill Macbeth with cruelty to kill Duncan. After killing Duncan, Macbeth seems to be frightened by any little thing that happens. The brave Macbeth has crossed the line between male and female roles, since having paranoia is not a masculine trait. Another character who crosses the gender line is Macduff, leaving his family without their consent to talk about the corruption of Macbeth. However, Macduff

Most significantly, Lady Macbeth is able to emasculate her husband repeatedly, possessing the knowledge that in his desperation to prove himself and his manhood to her, he will perform the sinister tasks she wishes him to perform. Macbeth in turn, later echoes Lady Macbeth’s actions as he questions the manhood of the murderers hired to kill Banquo. Such ambitions are further seeded as she continuously builds upon the prosperity the crown would provide should Macbeth be willing to claim it: nobility, power, and vast riches. Her attempts to manipulate are proven successful as Macbeth gives into her demands, proclaiming that, “I dare do all that may become a man; who dares do more is none” in (1, 7, 46-47). This line suggests Macbeth fears losing his masculinity and thus follows the commands of his wife in order to reclaim its solidarity. It is this lurking anxiety dwelling within the two that the reader may observe

The author includes characters in Macbeth that epitomizes the standard, obsequious woman. One such character is Lady Macduff, whom Shakespeare portrays as completely dependent on her husband. When Macduff left to dethrone Macbeth, rather than worrying for her husband, Lady Macduff complained that he left “...his wife… his babes, his mansion and his titles…” because Macduff “...loves [them] not.” (Shakespeare 119). Shakespeare eventually kills of Lady Macduff to highlight her weakness and naivety, traits people believed to be commonly found in women (Shakespeare 124). Another similar character is the Gentlewoman. The name “Gentlewoman” in its own serves to create an image of a feeble, meek person who only moves only for others. When the