Toxic Masculinity (and Macbeth)

So, in English, we have to do a presentation about a theme in Macbeth. As well as being completely terrified of public speaking (especially to my peers), I also have an embarrassing habit of going off on a massive rant about something that...is only very vaguely connected to what I am supposed to be speaking about.

Case in point: I was practising with a friend, and I managed to spend at least two minutes rambling on about James I and the Duke of Buckingham, and about Shakespeare's sonnets (spoiler- someone changed the pronouns!)

Anyway, I have decided to write down my speech here. Hopefully, it will give me more of a structure to follow so that I don't make it up on the spot.

Here we go:

I'm going to be talking about the Theme of Masculinity in the play Macbeth.

Firstly, what does masculinity mean? Some synonyms are strength, toughness, muscular and powerful. In direct contrast, as femininity is the antonym of masculinity, synonyms for femininity are caring, honest and vulnerable.

This links in nicely with the Historical and Social Context of the play. In Jacobean England, men were the leaders of society, even though the previous ruler to James I was Elizabeth I, undeniably a female. Men were also the head of their family, in charge, on paper at least, of the money and the servants. Being considered a man was highly important to Jacobean men, and it had connotations with being brave and noble.

The audience when this play was first performed would have viewed masculinity as Macbeth views masculinity- they would recognise and almost value many of the characteristics that he shows, even if they would not agree with his actions. Women, on the other hand, were considered weak and unfit rulers- the portrayal of Lady Macbeth would have shocked many of them.

I think that this theme is very important because this warped view of masculinity that Macbeth has is a key factor in how the play unfolds- if it wasn't a key theme, then I believe that the events would not have been as disastrous as they were.

Macbeth views being a man, and therefore masculinity, as being violent, having power and using brutal strength. The first key moment in the play is in Act 1, Scene 7, when Lady Macbeth attacks her husband's masculinity after he expresses his doubts about killing the king. She tells him, "When you durst do it, then you were a man," which is almost as if she is blackmailing him, and using his masculine image as a bargaining chip to achieve her ambitions.

The second key moment in the play comes in the same scene as the previous one, when Lady Macbeth does not contradict her husband when he says, "Bring forth men-children only." This shows that he views her as being too manly to have gentler, more vulnerable female children. This then further enforces the stereotypical view of men and masculinity. Interestingly, Elizabeth I also enforced the stereotypical view of men in her speech to the English Troops before the Spanish Armada, when she said, "I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king." Despite her being the most powerful person in all of England, she still seemed to feel controlled by stereotypical views of each gender, although here she may actually use them to her advantage while enforcing the views.

The third key moment comes in Act 4, Scene 3 when Macduff is shown to have a much gentler view of masculinity. After he finds out that his family have all been murdered, Malcolm orders him to "Dispute it like a man," or, to man-up. However, Macduff rebukes him, saying, "But I must also feel it like a man." This shows that Macduff knows he can be a man and show emotions- he is comfortable in his masculinity and does not have the same warped view of being a man that Macbeth does.

The last key moment is in Act 5, Scene 8. This moment shows that Malcolm has learnt from Macduff about what being a man means, as he tells Seyward that his son's death is, "worth more sorrow,", to which, Seyward replies, "He's worth no more." Seyward therefore has the same view on masculinity as Macbeth does, the view that to be a man means no emotions, but Malcolm thinks that it is okay to show emotions. Hopefully, due to this new understanding, Malcolm will become a better person and a better ruler for the future.

Finally, Macduff is portrayed as being incredibly patriotic, leaving his family to save his country. In contrast, Macbeth is portrayed as being family-centered, gaining power for himself and for his wife. This is highly ironic, as although men were expected to be both, they were expected by society to fight for their country, and Macbeth, the soldier who is the stereotypical man in the Jacobean era, does not fit the pattern here; Macduff does. Shakespeare's message seems to be that the better people are the people who sacrifice their family for the greater good, as Macduff does.

And if we follow through on this point, is Malcolm considered by Shakespeare a good or a bad person? Is he patriotic or is he family-centered? Well, according to the evidence in the play, he is patriotic, and therefore a good person. For example, in Act 2, Scene 3, he leaves his younger brother so that he can save his country. This then enforces my previous point about Malcolm being a better ruler, as he is a better person.

To conclude, Shakespeare used the theme of masculinity to challenge views of gender and stereotypical thoughts. This still happens today, which is why I think it is still an incredibly important theme. While gender roles are slowly being wiped away, Toxic Masculinity and Oppression of Women are still happening today, making the play of Macbeth extremely relevant in society now.

So that's everything. That's my whole speech, all planned out. And, I must admit, I am so much more nervous about the whole thing now (although that might have something to do with the fact that it is TOMORROW).
Oh, and by the way, thank you to everyone who has wished me luck! Love you!