Gender in Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, gender plays a central role in shaping characters, their behavior, and the expectations placed upon them. The play explores how ideas of masculinity and femininity influence ambition, morality, and power, revealing how rigid gender roles can distort human behavior. 

Masculinity and Ambition

Masculinity in Macbeth is closely linked to aggression, ambition, and the desire for power. Lady Macbeth, in particular, challenges traditional gender norms by equating masculinity with ruthlessness. When she learns of the witches’ prophecy, she fears that Macbeth is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” to seize the crown. She urges him to commit murder, associating masculinity with courage and decisiveness:

“When you durst do it, then you were a man.”

This line illustrates how Lady Macbeth manipulates the concept of masculinity to push Macbeth toward regicide. Shakespeare presents masculinity not as an inherent trait but as a social expectation, one that can be exploited to influence behaviour. Macbeth’s own understanding of manhood becomes entwined with his ambition, driving him to commit increasingly violent acts. His fear of appearing weak or unmanly contributes to his moral corruption, showing how rigid ideas of gender can have destructive consequences.

Femininity and Power

At the same time, Macbeth challenges the traditional notion of femininity. Lady Macbeth famously calls on spirits to “unsex me here,” asking to be stripped of feminine qualities like compassion and nurturing. In Shakespeare’s society, women were expected to be passive, gentle, and moral. Lady Macbeth rejects these expectations, seeking the cruelty she associates with masculinity to gain power:

“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!”

By asking to be “unsexed,” she links gender directly to moral characteristics, implying that femininity is naturally associated with weakness or kindness. Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth to explore how societal expectations of gender can constrain individuals, forcing them to adopt behaviors contrary to their natural disposition in order to achieve their goals.

Gender and Manipulation

The relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth also highlights how gender roles can be used as tools of manipulation. Lady Macbeth taunts Macbeth’s masculinity to influence him, while he initially hesitates to kill Duncan because he fears moral and societal consequences. This dynamic demonstrates how gender expectations can create internal conflict and drive plot development. Shakespeare shows that power in Macbeth is often linked to the ability to conform to (or exploit) societal norms about gender.

Inversion of Gender Roles

Throughout the play, Shakespeare frequently inverts traditional gender roles to create tension and highlight moral corruption. While Lady Macbeth exhibits traditionally 'masculine' traits of aggression and dominance, Macbeth displays traits that might have been considered 'feminine' at the time, such as hesitation, guilt, and emotional vulnerability. For example, after murdering Duncan, Macbeth is plagued by guilt and fear:

“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?”

This reaction contrasts sharply with Lady Macbeth’s earlier call for cruelty and her initial emotional control, highlighting the reversal of gendered expectations. Shakespeare uses this inversion to question the assumptions of his audience, showing that power, morality, and courage are not determined by gender, and that rigid roles can lead to chaos.

Gender, Violence, and Society

The play also links gender to violence and social order. Men are expected to be warriors and leaders, while women are expected to be obedient and moral. When characters reject or distort these roles, the natural order is disrupted. Lady Macbeth’s subversion of femininity and Macbeth’s obsession with proving his masculinity contribute to the play’s bloodshed and moral decay. Shakespeare suggests that societal expectations of gender, when taken to extremes, can result in destruction for both individuals and the wider community.

Language and Imagery

Shakespeare reinforces gender themes through language and imagery. Repeated references to “manhood,” “milk,” and “unsexing” link physical and moral characteristics to gender. Blood imagery also intersects with gender, as both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth struggle with guilt and the consequences of their violent actions. Lady Macbeth’s attempt to wash imagined blood from her hands and Macbeth’s recognition of the irreversible nature of his crimes reflect how gendered expectations intensify feelings of guilt and moral tension.

Gender in Macbeth is central to understanding character motivation, moral conflict, and the consequences of ambition. Shakespeare challenges traditional ideas of masculinity and femininity by showing how they can be manipulated, inverted, and distorted. Lady Macbeth subverts femininity to gain power, while Macbeth equates masculinity with violent ambition, leading to tragedy. The play demonstrates that rigid gender roles can create internal and societal chaos, and that moral corruption often arises when individuals feel forced to act against their natural disposition to meet societal expectations.