GENDERED READING OF
MACBETH
BY ROBYN MCCOY
P.S everyone, sorry if I sound a bit croaky, I was
struggling with a sore and scratchy throat haha
enjoy 
DEFINITIONS
• Gender: A term of social classification that refers to
the sexual difference and the roles, identities and
practices that are related to sex differences in
culture.
• Gendered Reading: In literature, gendered readings
focus on the representations of femininity and
masculinity in texts-how they are produced and
why, and what effects they may have.
LIST OF TRAITS
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FEMININE:
Submissive
Dependent
Unintelligent and
Incapable
Emotional
Receptive
Intuitive
Weak Timid
Content
Passive
Cooperative
Sensitive
Attractive because of
physical appearance
MASCULINE:
•Dominant
•Independent
•Intelligent and competent
•Analytical and Logical
•Rational
•Brave
•Strong
•Ambitious
•Competitive
•Strong
•Assertive
•Attractive because of
achievements
ORIGINS
• Cicero states "a man's chief quality is courage."
• the Hebrew Bible states King David of Israel told his son
"Be strong, and be a man" upon David's death.
• “To be a man you have to be brave, cruel and strong ”
• Ideas of masculinity seen in myths about Gods and
Heros:
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-Ancient Greece Mythology- Zeus
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- Roman Mythology- Mars, Saturn
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- Norse Mythology- Odin, Thor
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- Ancient Egyptian Mythology- Ra,
MACBETH
• Macbeth is praised for his work in battle in Act 1,
Scene 2
• Is made Thane of Cawdor because of his “personal
venture”, admired for being afraid of nothing and
his multiple killings.
• Ideas of valor and honor
• Protagonist
• Relationship between
cruelty-masculinity
-bravery-ambition
LADY MACBETH
• The character of Lady Macbeth helps establish and
emphasize masculine characteristics
• She criticizes him for being weak and cowardly when he
does not go through with the murder
• She seems to be the driving force for Macbeth’s plans
and uses manipulation to get him to do what she wants
• In this way lady Macbeth
and Macbeth subvert
gender role expectations
MACDUFF
• His love and care for his family is evident, which
contrasts to Macbeth who does not seem to care
when his wife dies
• Seems to embody Shakespeare’s idea of what a
man should be-strong, but also able to show
emotion
• When he learns of his family’s death, he is told to
“dispute it like a man.” and he replies, “I shall do so,
/ But I must also feel it as a man”
AFFECTED RESPONSE
• Sophisticated and unique for its time
• Makes us question ideas on femininity and
masculinity in current life and how they shape our
actions, thoughts and expectations
• Explores the idea of men expressing an emotional
side and how this does not make them weak but
only enhances “masculinity”, which I believe is an
idea seen more commonly today
WHY THIS INFORMATION IS USEFUL
• Can be used in exam questions involving;
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-discourses and readings
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-character construction