Toxic Masculinity In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

‘Toxic masculinity’ is a term used to describe stereotypically masculine traits that are harmful to society or to men themselves. For example, young boys are often taught that they must be stoic, tough, or sometimes aggressive in order to be ‘manly’, while if a young boy shows sensitivity he is insulted and called girly. In Macbeth many of the male and female characters are affected by toxic masculinity, and the connection between masculinity and violence becomes one of the major themes in the play. The female characters in Macbeth amplify the theme of toxic masculinity and it’s direct link to violence and cruel acts. Most of the women spark instances of aggression based on the taunting, belittling, or encouraging of a male character’s (namely

Macbeth’s) manliness. Not only are the male characters affected by the idea of masculinity, but the female characters are also influenced by masculine characteristics. Only at the end of the play is the definition of ‘manliness’ double checked, and ultimately given a new meaning. One of the first events to take place involving the mockery of manliness is sparked by the line “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare 1.3. 51)

Lady Macbeth receives a letter from Macbeth telling her of the Witches prophecy.

Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way: thou wouldst be great,
Art not without ambition, but without The illness should attend it.
(1.5. 16-21)

She knows that power is what Macbeth desires, but believes he is too kind in nature to do what is necessary to obtain it. She resolves to take matters into her own hands upon his return and have him murder the king so that the crown will be transferred to him. She formulates a plan, but Macbeth is weary. “We will proceed no further in this business.” (1.7. 32). Lady Macbeth is outraged by this defiance. To recapture Macbeth’s belief in her plan she resorts to mockery and taunts. The focus of her verbal jabs are Macbeth’s manhood.

Lady Macbeth connects his masculinity directly to his willingness to perform violent and cruel acts. “When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man.” (1.7. 49 - 51). Macbeth succumbs to Lady Macbeth and agrees to carry out the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth is well aware of the power insulting one’s manhood holds and uses it well. The fragility of masculinity is made apparent in this section by how quickly Macbeth falls into a murderous haze after Lady Macbeth’s words.

Later in the play Macbeth uses this strategy when persuading the Murderers to attack Banquo and Fleance. ”Now, if you have a station in the file, / Not i' th' worst rank of manhood, say ’t,” (3.1. 105-106) The threat of losing one’s manhood is one of the driving forces behind the most violent acts that take place in Macbeth. It is because of Lady Macbeth that Macbeth ultimately commits the murder of King Duncan, and it is because of the belief that masculinity is synonymous with aggression that she is successful in her manipulation. Lady Macbeth is the catalyst for the action of Macbeth, and in this way shows characteristics of violent masculinity herself. “Bring forth men-children only, / For thy undaunted mettle should compose / Nothing but males.” (1.7. 72-74)

The women of Macbeth not only emphasise the violent tendencies of the men and connect them to violence, but they also show these qualities themselves.

Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Come to my woman’s breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murd'ring ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances
You wait on nature’s mischief.

(1.5. 30-33, 37-40)

It is argued that Macbeth is Shakespeare’s most misogynistic play because of the evil present in the women. The root of all evil can be traced to either the Witches or Lady Macbeth, and while it is the men that commit the violent deeds, it is the manipulative acts of the women that shock the audience because they go against the natural order.

Lady Macbeth wishes to be “unsexed” as her actions are not fit for a feminine creature because of their cruel intentions. Macbeth wishes her to “Bring forth men-children only,” as her own ambition and malice must create nothing but masculine beings. Even the Witches and their original prophecy are what spark Macbeth’s violent ambition. The Witches manipulative words and trickery are another shocking example of the malice of women present in Macbeth. The trickery of the witches brings forth Hecate, goddess of witchcraft. She is the only divine being to appear in the play, so she ultimately holds the most power and sits in the top spot on The Great Chain of

Being.

Even after heinous acts are perpetrated they are not acknowledged as such until it’s too late, or not at all.

In the case of Lady Macbeth, the murder of King Duncan weighed down so much on her conscience that she was driven to commit suicide. When she does so, Macbeth shoes no remorse or guilt “She should have died hereafter. / There would have been a time for such a word.” It is claimed that it is unmanly to show any form of sadness, which is why Lady Macbeth was taken by guilt, and Macbeth remained unbothered. It is in this why that the man and woman of the house are distinguished.

Towards the end of the play, after Macbeth convinces the Murderers to kill Macduff’s wife and child, Macduff is advised to do what is ‘manly’ and exact his revenge. It is here that the idea of manliness built up throughout most of the play is challenged. When Malcolm tells Macduff to “Dispute it like a man,” Macduff counters ”I shall do so. / But I must also feel it as a man”

(4.3.221–223).

Macbeth has become more of a tyrant than a king, and a decision is reached in England that he must be overthrown. Malcolm and Macduff lead the charge against the tyrant king of Scotland and begin to assemble troops. Malcolm is fueled revenge for the murder of his father, but Macduff is not quite so motivated. Unbeknownst to him however, Macbeth has arranged for the murder of Macduff’s Wife and Son. Once news of this has reached Macduff he demands justice, but also understands that he must take the time to mourn his loved ones. “Dispute it like a man, / I shall do so. / But I must also feel it as a man” (4.3.221–223).

It is here where the idea of masculinity being associated only with cruelty, violence, and aggression is questioned. Macduff is a prominent character, and eventually the hero in the final act of Macbeth, and the fact that he recognizes that it is manly to be distraught and upset over the death of a loved one is an important point. Macduff has a much more sincere reaction to the death of his wife than Macbeth does to his. These events are evidence of how far Macbeth has fallen from man to monster. Once Macbeth has dueled his way through many of Macduff’s men he finds himself trapped by Macduff. Ultimately Macduff slays Macbeth and pierces his head on a wooden spike.

In the greatest test of ‘manliness’ one can take Macduff emerges the victor, despite being the more sensitive of the two men. This final section takes the carefully crafted definition of manhood that Shakespeare has established and turned it on it’s head. Whether it was intentional or not Macduff takes a step towards the acceptance of more classically feminine traits being present in men. It is a short section of text that greatly impacts the story and it’s driving action.

Macbeth explores masculinity and its connection to violence through the men’s willingness to act violent when their manhood is threatened, the women recognizing that their wrong doings are considered manly, and through the counter argument that men are also able to be sensitive. The secondary characters drive these events while the main character, Macbeth, is simply a tool for the emphasization of the theme. It is through the manipulation by Lady Macbeth, the Witches, and the eventual victory of Macduff does Macbeth aid the drive of the exploration of toxic masculinity within Macbeth, the character, and Macbeth, the play.