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Macbeth
William Shakespeare, famous playwright and author of Macbeth lived many centuries ago, in
Elizabethan times. However, this does not mean that the themes and issues in his plays are
not relevant in society today. Despite Macbeth being written for such a different audience so
long ago, many of the issues, particularly gender roles and how theyve changed and the
consequence of bad choice, and themes, for example deception, depicted by Shakespeare are
still relevant in todays society, and give us insight into ourselves and humanity.
Macbeth was written in 1606, so by analysing the roles of the female characters in the play,
we are able to gain insight into how the roles of women in society have changed over time.
The status of women in Elizabethan times is evident right from the character list. Of the forty
characters in the play, only seven are women, and these seven characters are named at the
bottom of the list. This shows that Elizabethan society was male oriented, and that women
were not a huge influence on it.
Shakespeare uses Lady Macduff to portray the image of a typical Elizabethan woman. She
plays the role of a stay at home mum, and is shown as overly emotional when Macduff leaves
in Act 4 Scene 2, believing that it is because He loves us (her and her son) not. (Line 8) and
that even the poor wren will fight, her young ones in her nest, against the owl. (Lines 9-11).

This stereotype of women as feeble and powerless chicks needing a man to protect them in
their nest says a lot about a womans place in Elizabethan Britain, and contrasts greatly with
what we see today. Although there are still stay at home mums, 69% of women are in the
workforce, so they are no longer just child-bearers and home-makers. Additionally, Forbes
Magazine ranks Angela Merkel, the current chancellor of Germany who happens to be
female, 4
th
in its list of the worlds most powerful people. By comparing the roles of women
in Macbeth to what we see today, we can gain a large amount of insight into how
dramatically gender roles have changed over time.
Lady Macbeth is a character that defies the Elizabethan gender stereotypes. She is strong and
ambitious, qualities that were seen as being masculine. However, as the play progresses she
feels the consequence of her involvement in the series of murders. She is overtaken by guilt
to the point that In Act 5 Scene 1 she sleepwalks, showing weakness that is not seen at the
start of the play, unable to wash the blood from the murders off her hands which all the
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perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten (Line 51-52) because whats done cannot be undone
(Line 69).
This is ironic, as in Act 2 Scene 2 when Macbeth kills the king she says a little water clears
us of this deed (Line 71) and later she cannot rid her own hands of the damned spot (Line
36) of Duncans blood, a metaphor for the guilt she feels for his murder. This leads onto
another example of an insight we gain from Macbeth- how a bad choice can change a person.

Another character who changes as a result of their actions is Macbeth. We are able to see
these changes through his interaction with other characters, particularly his wife, their
relationship acting as a metaphor, mirroring his changing nature.
In Act 1 Scene 2 when noble Macbeth (line 68) has returned from battle against the
Norwegians he is showered with praise from the king who calls him a valiant cousin and
worthy gentleman (line 24) and greets Macbeth with the title of the Thane of Cawdor. By
doing this the king shows that Macbeth is an honourable, well-thought-of gentleman. His
gentle nature at this point in the play is mirrored by his relationship with Lady Macbeth. They
trust each other immensely, Macbeth immediately telling his wife telling of the prophecy
saying he shalt be king hereafter (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 49), and trusting in her judgement to
commit regicide.
However, after Macbeth realises how easy it was for him to kill Duncan, he becomes so
obsessed with making sure that he doesnt face the same fate that he changes, and his
relationship with Lady Macbeth, mirroring this change, becomes strained. In Act 3 Scene 2,
when she asks "What's to be done?"(Line 49) he says to "Be innocent of the knowledge"
(Line 50). In not telling Lady Macbeth of his plans as he did before he killed Duncan, we see
a new secretive and deadly side to Macbeth, and begin to see the negative consequences of
Macbeths choice to murder.
As Macbeth becomes responsible for more and more deaths, him and his wife grow further
and further apart. His initial love for Lady Macbeth is contrasted greatly in Act 5 Scene 5
when Lady Macbeth dies, for all Devilish Macbeth (Act 4 Scene3 Line 118) has to say is
She should have died hereafter (Line 17).
As a result of the murders, ambition and a need for power took over Macbeth, turning him
from a respectable man full o th milk of human kindness (Act 1 Scene 5 Line 15) to
someone who doesnt even mourn the death of their wife. This complete change in Macbeths
nature gives insight into the severity of the consequences that come with making a bad
choice, and the effect they can have.
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One of the main ways in which Macbeth managed to commit the murders that lead to his
change in personality without raising suspicion, was by misleading people into believing a
false reality. This gives the audience a deeper understanding of deception.
Deception is portrayed in the play using a number of methods, one of which being
Shakespeare's language. The theme is introduced in the very first scene through paradox
when the witches say "fair is foul, and foul is fair" (Line 9), and is seen continually
throughout the course of Macbeth in metaphor; for example in Act 1 Scene 6 when Lady
Macbeth tells her husband to "look th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't" (Lines 65-
66) and in Act 4 Scene 3 when Malcolm says "Angels are bright still, though the brightest
fell: Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace" (Line 22-23), comparing the
angel Macbeth previously appeared to be to the fallen angel Lucifer, who he has come to be.

As the audience to Macbeth, we are also given insight into deception through private
conversations and soliloquies. In Act 1 Scene 6, Duncan describes the Macbeth castle as
having a pleasant seat (Line 1) and sweet air in. The castle appears to be safe and
welcoming and deceives Duncan into feeling comfortable, making it easy for the Macbeths to
lure him inside to the murder trap that they discuss privately the scene previous to Duncans
arrival. As the audience we are able to listen into this plotting, giving us knowledge of the
Macbeths deceptive agenda. Lady Macbeth adds to the trickery by appearing a hospitable
hostess and flattering the king into feeling safe. This idea of the Macbeths appearing to be
warm but planning to kill is a great example of deception, and gives insight into the fact that
everything is not what it seems and you have to be careful who you trust and what you
believe.
In conclusion, as shown above, studying Shakespeare provides us with insight into humanity,
that is the way people are and the way life works. Not only do the plays entertain but as
shown by Macbeth, they provide a deeper understanding of many issues and themes such as
gender roles, consequence and deception, which are relevant not only in Elizabethan times,
but nowadays too.
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