Macbeth: Gender Sterotypes

Section One
Biographical Sketch
“William Shakespeare, the third of eight children and the first boy, was born in 1564 and baptized on 26 April in Holy Trinity Church” (Alexander 12). He was born and raised in the countryside known as Stratford, England and it is also where he was later buried when he died (Cousins 18).
Catherine M.S Alexander states, “his birthday is traditionally set three days earlier, assuming the usual delay between birth and baptism. “Conveniently, 23 April is also, St. George’s Day, thus creating a patriotic elision between England’s national saint and national playwright” (12).
Shakespeare grew up in a family that was considered part of the middle class during the time period in which he lived. His father, John Shakespeare came from a family of farmers. This influenced his father in his work ethic. Growing up with a family of farmers made him a diligent and preserving man (Cousins 18). In his lifetime he held a variety of jobs that made him quite the entrepreneur, “he became a successful glover, landowner, moneylender, and dealer in wool and other agricultural goods” (Greenblatt 42). According to Gewirtz, in Shakespeare’s hometown his father was well known by all the inhabitants, “and in fact at one time held the office corresponding to that of a modern mayor” (5). Lastly, Shakespeare’s mother’s side of the family also earned their living by tending the land that was in close proximity to Stratford called Wilmcote (Bate and Thornton 55). Both sides of his family were alike not only in how they earned their livings but also through the common element of being overall conservative in their lives.
Shakespeare’s family was considered fairly traditional in how they lived their lives. Dona...

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