What is feminism? Does it still exist? Who do you think will be the winner of this title? Lady Macbeth, the psychotic, patronising, devil woman of the Shakespearean era? Or will it be the modern woman, Susan B Anthony the courageous woman who voted for the president election illegally and who is the hero of women’s rights. Who wins in this tournament?
In Elizabethan England women were known as sweet, innocent, modest, polite, charming, obedient, and respectful and the inferior sex. Although in today society it is quite the opposite, ideal women in today’s society are known for confidence, outgoing, smart, beautiful, humorous and fun to be around with. Are these the quality of the two women, Lady Macbeth and Susan B Anthony, we are contrasting today?
Feminism means to me the representation of women in society. Do you think feminism should exist? Yes, I believe it should exist because every person on this planet should have equal rights. If there were no feminists and feminism who are we as women? Would we still be able to vote? Will we still be trapped in between those walls cooking and cleaning?
Both feminists have strong ambitions, however Lady Macbeth’s ambitions are purely selfish and desires power and position, on the other hand Susan B Anthony’s ambition were not selfish but was driven to fight for women’s rights.
Announcer: from Shakespeare’s play the evil and ruthless Lady…..Macbeth! And from the opposite corner Susan B Anthony the fierce woman who changed history! Round One: Ding! Ding! When we first see Lady Macbeth, she is plotting her evil scheme to Duncan’s murder. We quickly realise Lady Macbeth’s personality is portrayed as frightening and murderous. This is seen in the play when Lady Macbeth says ‘that croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan’. In this quote Lady Macbeth uses allusion to murder this allusion to murder is recognised by the word “croak” referring to a crow which is a symbol of death. Lady Macbeth says this because she is thinking of how she will kill Duncan. Susan B Anthony was a woman who fought for women’s equal rights. She was a strong and fearless woman who believed in equality in society this is shown in the quote “Women, we might as well be dog baying the moon as petitioners without the right to vote!’ In this quote Susan B Anthony uses personification to compare if women are not allowed to vote they would be useful as dogs looking at the moon. Announcer: This round goes to Susan B Anthony.
Round two: Ding! Ding! In 1872 Susan B Anthony was arrested for voting in a president election, she was fined $100 but never paid it. Announcer: Ouch! What a cunning strike from Anthony. How will Lady Macbeth recover? Lady Macbeth shows masculinity and determination with questions towards her husband when he hesitates to murder. Lady Macbeth uses the quote ‘I have given suck, and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out, had I sworn as you have done this’ Lady Macbeth uses violent language to persuade and show Macbeth how important to her a promise is. Announcer: A quick and hard upper cut from Macbeth, she wins the round!
Announcer: Macbeth and Anthony are strong and determined women, they don’t give up until they achieve what they set to achieve. Round three: ding! Ding! Lady Macbeth is persistent and achieves her goal into becoming queen. Lady Macbeth uses this quote to describe her “…nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark to cry “Hold, hold!” Lady Macbeth uses the theme of good/light to contrast on her evil deed and let nothing good/heavenly stop her from what she is doing. Many men and women disliked and despised Susan B Anthony and said that she was outspoken on her views in politics and society because Anthony illegally voted in politics as a woman. In this quote ‘The only chance women have for justice in this country is to violate the law, as I have done, and as I shall continue to do’ Susan B Anthony shows dominance and authority for what she is fighting for. Announcer: it was a close round but the winner of this round is Susan B Anthony.
Round 4: Ding! Ding! Lady Macbeth is like the devil burning with evil intentions we can see this in her quote ‘Shall sun that morrow see!’ is her intentions for Duncan. Lady Macbeth uses allusion to murder to show that Duncan will die tonight. Susan B Anthony is the opposite this is shown in the quote ‘it was we, the people, not we, the white male citizens, nor yet we, the male citizens, but we, the whole people, who formed the union’ repetition is used in this quote to remind and make them realise what she is saying. Susan B Anthony is trying to get across her audience. Announcer: These two women never give up don’t they? Round 4 goes to Lady Macbeth by her intentions.
Announcer: Both women are held down by society Round 5: ding! Ding! Even though Lady Macbeth seems strong and dominating in the relationship she works through by her husband shown in the quote ‘‘Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t’ Lady Macbeth uses simile and metaphor to manipulate her husband to do what she wants opposed to Susan B Anthony who is standing for herself as seen in the quote ‘I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand’ Susan B Anthony explains that women do not need a man to guide a woman because women are strong with or without a man. Emotive language is used to move her audience. Announcer: Lady Macbeth too slow and Susan B Anthony swings a superman.
Announcer: Ladies especially and gentlemen our winner of this tournament is Susan B Anthony. She wins the golden belt and the name and crown of THE SRONGER FEMMINIST tournament. This leaves us to the conclusion ladies and gentlemen. As we can see feminism still exists and the fact that a long time ago the relationship between the sexes is both unequal and oppressive to women. Lady Macbeth is a feminist because she was against her society and that in her quote ‘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!’ Lady Macbeth is asking the spirits to remove her gender and her female characteristics and be equal to a male. Susan B Anthony is the ultimate feminist because she stood up for women and their rights and tried to change society’s views on women by illegally voting to encourage women, around the country to give speeches and give faith to people for women’s rights. Thank you folks! And I will see you next time.
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