Feminism in Macbeth - 1712 Words

Feminism is the Source of Tragedy in Macbeth Behind every successful man there is a ruthless woman pushing him along to gain her own personal successes. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth causes Macbeths downfall. With the faults and lies of Lady Macbeth, marriage is Macbeth’s big mistake. Lady Macbeth turns his courageous conquests on the fields of war into butchery. Mangled by the blood-spotted hands of his wife he becomes a traitor to himself, the people around him, and even her. In the beginning they both desire power and Lady Macbeths starts to put evil thoughts in her husband’s head. Eventually Macbeth turns into a guiltless monster, which ironically causes Lady Macbeth’s downfall. Lady Macbeth’s life centers completely on her†¦show more content†¦You can conclude that she is blinded for ambition, â€Å"It is her blind ambition that, ironically, blinds her to the truth about herself, that she is advocating a marriage of deception, that she believes is not only virtuous but also a necessity to achieving ones ambition, the crown (Ancona).† Lady Macbeth is conscience only of her desire to gain power, and pays little attention to the consequences that are sure to follower her selfish actions. In order to control Macbeth’s guilt she says,† These deeds must not be thought. After these ways; so it will make us mad (Thomson).† She starts to put ideas in Macbeth’s head, and attempts to make him heartles s about murder. In one sense, Lady Macbeth fulfills her role as helpmate of her husband, although in an admittedly gruesome fashion. She attends her husband at the murder, eggs him one, and completes the task of incriminating the grooms by smearing them with blood, all of which is completely outside the guidelines of acceptable female behavior but is done to assist her husband. (Ancona) Macbeth is easily tempted into murder by his wife to fulfill his ambitions to the throne. Once he stabs Duncan there is no stopping him. Macbeth then proceeds to kill Banquo, Fleance, Lady Macduff, and her children. Lady Macbeth only manipulated him to kill the king, but the decisions to kill Macduff and Banquo were his own. Banquo was his good loyal friend, after he killed him we know that he was out of his mind. Each person he has killedShow MoreRelatedLady Macbeth Feminism Essay1257 Words   |  6 Pagesclassic, 1606 play, Macbeth, as did director Sam Mendes in one of the iconic James Bond films, 2012, Skyfall. T hrough classic pieces of literature and modern day film, women are forced to compete in a never-ending game; to compete against being depicted as emotionally unstable and as disposable objects of pleasure. Through classic pieces of literature, women are continuously represented as emotionally unstable and insecure. Throughout most of literary history, Lady Macbeth – the scheming spouseRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Play For King James I, The Tragedy Of Macbeth1200 Words   |  5 PagesJames I, the tragedy of Macbeth. For the last five-hundred years, this highly regarded piece of literature has been studied by countless students and intellectuals. One of the many methods scholars use to interpret a piece of literature is through the feminist perspective. Feminism is defined as the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men (â€Å"Feminism†). Although one can use a feminist lens to interpret Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the historical perspectiveRead MoreEssay about macbeth and antigone1110 Words   |  5 PagesNguyen  1   Diana  Nguyen   Tanaka   Honors  Humanities  Ã‚   01  October  2013   Macbeth  Ã‚  Antigone:  Make  Me  a  Man?   Feminism  is  a  method  of  analyzing  women’s  positions  in  society  by  examining  the   gender  role  and  how/why  some  behaviors  are  stereotyped  towards  a  certain  gender.  A  concept  of   feminism,  patriarchy  is  a  male  centered  and  controlled  society  and  is  arranged  to  make  women   feel  inferior  to  Ã‚  men  in  every  occupation  whether  it  be  religion,  family,  politics,  economics,  legal   or  art.  Women  are  then  seen  lacking  in  male  organRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth And Antigone1540 Words   |  7 Pages Throughout the plays of Macbeth (1611), by Shakespeare, and Antigone (441 BC), by Sophocles, they demonstrate a significant role played by males who dominate by using power, which is the ability to influence or control the behavior and actions of others. This can be exemplified in many cases of rape by men, ransoms for women, and abusive relationships. Although all may have seemed lost for women, there have been some exceptions throughout the development of status in our world.Throughout historyRead MoreGender And Gender Roles In Macbeth By William Shakespeare1043 Words   |  5 PagesIn Macbeth by William Shakespeare, gender plays a pivotal role in the development of the overall plot and as the play advances, certain characters, including Macbeth and Lady Macbeth experience a reversal in traditional gender behaviors. Additionall y, we see gender confusion among other characters that enhances conflict in the play. Originally, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are portrayed in ways that enforce their respective masculinity and feminism in accordance to the society around them. As MacbethRead MoreThe Knife Of A Murderess987 Words   |  4 Pagesscholars and enthusiasts have examined the relationship between Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth. One objective purpose for closely examining their relationship is to determine who was acting as the greater evil of the pair or to determine if one could have acted without their partner in crime. Although many people view Lady Macbeth as the devoted wife who merely wished to help her husband gain control of the throne, it is Lady Macbeth who successfully manipulates her husband into committing murderRead MoreEssay on The Transformation of Macbeth1233 Words   |  5 PagesA man of dignity and intrepidity, Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the tragic play â€Å"Macbeth† had once embodied these majestic traits and left others around him awestruck in merely inspiration, yearning to echo his footsteps. His courageous escapades had also succeeded in winning over King Duncan of Scotland during a battle in which he defeated King Sweno of Norway. Yet, farther into the play, Macbeth’s character seemingly transforms into a man of ruthlessness and vulnerability. He becomes a â€Å"tragic hero†Read MoreGender Stereotypes : Macbeth And The Wife Of Bath1515 Words   |  7 Pageshistory had put their effort to lessen it. As the matter of fact, women often faced many obstacles due to the well-known gender stereotypes. This triggered the literature authors to write a literature in a feminist view, which ultimately had led feminism to predominantly act as a common literary device throughout the medieval ages and the Renaissance. While many authors portrayed women as a weak stereotypical female, some authors such as William Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chau cer challenged this byRead MoreAnalysis Of Beowulf And Sir Gawain And The Green Knight ``1866 Words   |  8 Pageswhich the woman plays the part of a peacekeeper or a beautiful object of desire, a respectful and obedient observer that is entirely confined – her role prescribed. Popular texts such as Macbeth†, â€Å"Beowulf†, â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† and â€Å"The Book of Margery Kempe† show support for this prescribed anti-feminism. Women who obey and strictly follow the roles of wives, mothers, and â€Å"peace weavers† generally appear as confined. While such a word may conjure images of forceful restriction; the confinedRead MoreWomen Strive for Education and Equal Rights1157 Words   |  5 Pagesthat they can convey their voices, and their thoughts, opinions and concerns are heard and delivered effectively in the public policy. Women Suffrage Movement was initiated as a result of women’s strive for the voting right s in the first wave of Feminism. But even today women are not given equal representation in politics; not because of the patriarchal oppression, but primarily because of their own indolence to acquire rights. Those who strive are on the apex of their fields while those who are