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Some critics say that Shakespeare played around with the gender roles of his characters in order to criticize the male-dominated culture at the time. Do you agree or disagree?
How was a man's social status determined?
In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth says "Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here/ And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top full/ Of direst cruelty!"
Gender Roles
Who is the author of "Women of Will"?
But shakespeare was like "no screw that"
In Act 1, Scene 7, Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to kill Duncan by attacking his manhood. She says, " When you durst do it, then you were a man/ And, to be more than what you were, you would/ Be so much more the man."
Gender roles are sets of societal norms dictating what types of behaviors are generally considered acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on their actual or perceived sex.
When Macbeth is convincing the Murderers to kill Banquo, he also attacks their manhood. In Act 3, Scene 1, Macbeth says, "Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men/ as hounds ands greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels. curs/ Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept/ All by the name of dogs."
Lady Macbeth thinks that Macbeth won't have enough courage to kill Duncan, and says "What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature/It is too full o' the milk of human kindness/ To catch the nearest way."
Typically, masculine traits were assigned to boys, and feminine traits were assigned to girls.
Women's clothing at the time was typically bland and non-descript.
Women usually wore what their husbands wanted them to wear.
Men were not expected to take care of the house or care for their children, yet men were seen as the most important people in the family unit.
The social status of a man was determined by his wealth and how much land he owned.
Women could not vote, choose to marry, or choose to have children. It was expected that women would be married and have children.
Women were not allowed to work in "man's jobs", and they could not get an education.*
Women were viewed as subservient to men, and all of the man's needs were fufilled by his wife.
In relationships, women were expected to fulfill
men's needs.
Men's clothing styles changed often and continuously advanced.
Women were overall seen as weaker,
less intelligent, and otherwise less
fit than men for most tasks.
Men were generally respected more in this culture.
Can you think of any examples from Macbeth?
"Femininity during medieval times." Medieval Gender. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2015. <http://www.medievalgender.org.uk/about/>.
"Roles of Women in The Middle Ages." Medieval Spell. N.p., 2011. Web. 12 May 2015. <http://www.medieval-spell.com/Roles-Of-Women-In-The-Middle-Ages.html>.
Alchin, Linda. "Medieval Women." Ancient Fortresses. N.p., Mar. 2015. Web. 12 May 2015. <http://www.ancientfortresses.org/medieval-women.html>.
Krulwich, Sara . "Review: "Women of Will" by Tina Packer." The New York Times. N.p., 4 May 2015. Web. 12 May 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/books/review-women-of-will-by-tina-packer-a-look-at-shakespeares-feminine-side.html?_r=0>
Now and Forever . Make Your Red Medieval Wedding Gowns a Dream Come True. Web. 12 May 2015. <http://redhotbrides.com/blog/index.php/2008/07/03/make-your-red-medieval-wedding-gowns-a-d>.