How Does Shakespeare Prove Masculinity In Macbeth

Society, being codified by man, decrees that woman is inferior; she can do away with this inferiority only by destroying the male's superiority.
- Simone de Beauvoir The above content explains how women are viewed as inferior to men because society is organized by men. It also reveals the only way for men and women to become equals is for women to destroy the power men hold. In Shakespearian times, this belief in masculine dominance was prevalent. The above content can be witnessed in Shakespeare's works in the way male characters react to women and the traits attributed to women. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare utilizes the feminine/masculine motif to demonstrate masculine superiority. When Lady Macbeth convinces her husband to murder Duncan, she implies masculine traits are preferable over feminine qualities. Lady
Macbeth implies the murderers "go for men" because they are willing to reject the feminine qualities such as patience and forgiveness (III.i.93). The word "men" is associated with vengeance and retaliation is seen as a way to demonstrate masculinity. Shakespeare includes this passage to demonstrate how the need to prove masculinity can be used to provoke characters to murder. The characters' belief in the inferiority of women is so strong, they are willing to murder in order to avoid appearing effeminate. Macbeth informs the murderers he will hire them if they are not in the "worst rank of manhood" which references traits associated with women (III.i.103-104). The word "worst" has a highly negative connotation and has a strong association with inferiority. Macbeth suggests if the murderers show stereotypically feminine traits such as patience or forgiveness then they will be inferior to other men. The rejection of these feminine characteristics demonstrates the inferiority not only of women, but also feminine