Gender Issues

 The theme for my Blog is gender issues, this theme touches upon many events that have occurred in the play Macbeth. This theme is very relevant to some characters in the play, like Lady Macbeth. There are also many quotes that relate to the theme of gender in the play and I will be introducing them in the following posts about gender issues in Macbeth.

Pop Culture Reference

http://www.wetpaint.com/glee/articles/alex-newells-cross-dressing-glee-guy-wade-aka-unique-what-did-you-think

http://www.wetpaint.com/glee/articles/does-glee-give-its-gay-characters-enough-screen-time-creator-ryan-murphy-responds-to-criticism

The pop culture reference that I have chosen was Glee. Some of the characters and events that have occurred in this TV show I think relate really well to the theme of gender issues.  The articles that I have found are about the new guy in glee, Wade aka Unique and the bias of the series about gay romance. In glee he is crossed-dressed and he had to change school because he wanted to be unique and express himself the way he wanted to. I think Wade and Kurt are a few character that can be related to the theme of gender because there have been so many gender issues in the show Glee.  I think this relates to the theme of gender because these characters try to fit in and try to be as equal as all the other people. This is just like when Banquo said that the witches are supposed to be ladies but they are not because they have a beard or when Lady Macbeth wants to become more manly because men are way stronger. This is like saying that being feminine is not okay and therefore every man has to be strong. 

Quote on Gender # 4

"Bring forth men-children only, for thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males."  – Macbeth 

Macbeth is talking to Lady Macbeth when he says this quote in Act one scene seven. When Macbeth acknowledges his wife's strength and power he suggests that it would be fitting if she gave birth to "men-children only, also because Her "undaunted mettle" suggests that she has all the makings of a strong and brave man, but obviously lady Macbeth wont be giving birth to any children. What Macbeth is trying to say from this quote is that only men-children are strong especially when it’s a powerful woman like lady Macbeth who would give birth according to Macbeth. At that time men where the only powerful gender, women were usually weak and I think that when Macbeth realized that Lady Macbeth was the only powerful women, she would have men-children only and she wouldn’t be able to have a female.  In my opinion this is a good example of a gender issue because Macbeth wouldn’t want any weak female children and is trying to say that only men are strong therefore he just assumes that Lady Macbeth  would have men-children.

 

Quote on Gender #3

“You should be women,
 and yet your beards forbid me to interpret
 that you are so. “ – Banquo 

 Banquo says this quote in Act one, scene three. This quote shows Banquo’s confusion about the withes’ gender. Banquo is trying to say that the witches are too masculine to be women. There is definitely something about the witches that triggers a gender issue in Macbeth. The witches are also know as the “bearded ladies”; they appear very mysterious and when Banquo encounters them he can’t really tell what gender they are do to their masculinity and weirdness.I think what the quote means is that women don’t have beards, women aren’t masculine, and therefore Banquo cant call them women.An example hat could relate to this could be is when something or someone are supposed to be something that they are not or appearing and being the opposite of what you are supposed to be. Seeing a woman with a beard wouldn’t be normal and you’d think she’s the opposite of what she is; feminine. This is the same for Banquo and the witches. This quote I think this quote is a good, relatable example to the theme of gender because of Banquo trying to understand why the witches have beards if they are supposed to be women.  

Character Analysis- Lady Macbeth

  Lady Macbeth is a character from Macbeth who exemplifies the theme of gender. Lady Macbeth is a powerful figure: attractive, ambitious, strong, and seems to be completely devoted to her husband. She is willing to do anything to take the throne of Scotland. According to Lady Macbeth, her husband is "too full o' the milk of human kindness" . She thinks he is weak and not strong enough, and too much like a woman. This is why she wants to be empowered not like a female, she wants be more manly so she can help Macbeth take the throne. One of the quotes that connects to the gender theme is when Lady Macbeth says “unsex me here” , Lady Macbeth wants become more manly and to be filled with the "Direst cruelty".  Lady Macbethis a perfect example of the theme of gender, she does the exact opposite of what a queen should be like, she brings out her empowered side of her and states that women have no power and strength, therefore she is in conflict with herself to become what she is not.

 

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Making Connections With a Current Event

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/267101-gallup-2012-election-had-the-largest-gender-gap-in-history

 There have been many gender issues in the Macbeth play, but not only in the play, we see gender issues worldwide. An example that could relate to the theme of gender and Lady Macbeth wanting to be more empowered is the article about Gallup: 2012 election had the largest gender gap in recorded history. This article I have found on The Hill, is about political participation and how women in the 2012 elections haven’t had many chances, as a result of women having the lower level of political participation. The gender gap in the 2012 presidential election was the largest since Gallup began tracking the metric in 1952, The politics of gender played a significant role throughout the 2012 election. In the play, Macbeth, there have been many gender issues such as; Macbeth being weak and not many enough or Lady Macbeth wanting to be stronger and manlier. Lady Macbeth is a powerful figure, very ambitious, strong, and willing to do anything to take the Throne of Scotland. A long time ago women had no say in anything. In this case, I can make a connection to Lady Macbeth wanting to be empowered just like the political women wanting to be at a higher level of political participation. Many political women such as, Hilary Clinton can relate to Lady Macbeth; either taking the throne or becoming President of the US. 

Quote on Gender #2

 "unsex me here,And fill me from the crown to the toe topful Of direst cruelty!"- Lady Macbeth

     This quote is a statement made by Lady Macbeth in Act one scene five when she isn't sure there's enough manhood to go around between herself and her husband. when she says "unsex me here". She means that she wants to be strong like a man so she could take the throne, that women are weak and therefore this  is her  way of asking to be stripped of feminine weakness and to become full of masculine resolve. This is an example of a soliloquy because Lady MacbethIs standing alone on stage, expressing her deepest psychological yearnings to the audience. An example that can relate to this theme is women doping in sports because they want to be stronger, manlier, and more power.  This quote relates to the theme of gender because in the book Lady Macbeth wants to be just like a man; strong and empowered. It’s an issue because she creates a sort of conflict with herself and how the issue is that she is a woman. Lady Macbeth also wants to become stronger like a man so that she could take the Throne of Scotland herself.

Quote on Gender #1

"It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness"- Lady Macbeth


    Lady Macbeth quotes in Act one scence five "It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness" in the book to refer to Macbeth, who is  "full o' th' milk of human kindness". When Macbeth has doubts and is scared of killing king Duncan to take the Scottish crown, Lady Macbeth is saying that he is not brave enough, that Macbeth is not manly enough but is rather feminine.This quote relates to the theme of gender because Macbeth should be a strong man willing to do anything to be the Thane, as Lady Macbeth explains that he is not. This is represents a gender issue not only because Macbeth is not manly enough but because Lady Macbeth would want to take his place and be more strong and manly, not like a woman. This is an example of a soliloquy because when lady Macbeth quotes "It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness" she is on stage alone ex pressing her deapest psychological yearnings to the audience. Men being weaker then women  in a sport is another is example that could relate tot his because men are usually seen as strong people  but in this case Lady Macbeth thinks the opposite for Macbeth.