Portrayal Of Gender Dynamics In Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Abstract

William Shakespeare, like the quintessential iconoclast portrayed a progressive view of gender in an era when women were historically depicted as the ‘weaker sex’. His representation of women was more mature and more profound. His treatment of women transcended the prevalent conception of them being inferior to men in every aspect and being susceptible to emotions. Shakespearean protagonists display traits that defy conventional gender stereotypes. His constant subversion of traditional gender roles in the subordination of men to dominant women exemplifies Shakespeare’s feelings which were much improper in society’s archetypal delineation of the “natural order.”

Apparently, William Shakespeare’s play, “Macbeth” is a magnum opus depicting an invincible hero who being enthralled by prophecies, chases a mirage of grandeur, and in an attempt to scale a personal pyramid of privatized ambition, wades through an unfathomable sea of blood but eventually fails to perpetuate power gained illegitimately. A deeper probe into the action of the play shows how the traditional gender norms surrounding masculinity and femininity are challenged. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth leverage their power and gender to mould their relationship. The turbulence of emotional vacillation between the lust for power and the torturous guilt that engenders from it affects their relationship, fueling the incessant struggle for dominance.