| Term Paper Title | Macbeth |
| # of Words | 832 |
| # of Pages (250 words per page double spaced) | 3.33 |
Macbeth
William Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, reveals the abnormal subject of confused gender roles within the first of the act play. The three Weird Sisters -- who Macbeth and Banquo comes across on their journey home from fighting a war against Scotland - are the start of this "gender confusion" which is seen throughout the play with Lady Macbeth and Macbeth, as well as in Macbeth's speech to the three murderers as he tries to convince them to agree to his plan and kill Banquo. As Banquo approaches these witches, he cannot determine whether they are men or women. They possess all of the qualities women can be attributed for, yet this confusion comes from the fact that they have beards upon their faces. Having this scene be the very first of act Shakespeare's Macbeth, foreshadows to the reader that gender roles will be confused through out the play. At the start of this play, Lady Macbeth is obviously the person in charge of their family. Upon hearing the news of Macbeth's prophecy told by the three Weird Sisters, -- that he will replace the present king, Duncan, when the time comes -- she immediately begins planning King Duncan's downfall. Macbeth is viewed as inferior and meek compared to his "manly" wife. Yet, it seems as though their positions in their relationship are switched after the murder of Duncan takes place. Lastly, King Macbeth's conversation with the three murderers he chose to fulfill the task of "getting rid of" Banquo and Fleance strongly shows the suggestion of confused gender roles. Macbeth clearly asks them if they are indeed men. All of these examples clearly prove the suggestion of confused gender roles that will be seen throughout this play. All of these gender role confusions show the reader
Within the first act of the play, the reader is introduced to the three Weird Sisters. Having this meeting being one of the first events in the play foreshadows not only this confusion of gender roles, but the idea of the supernatural world as well.
-what are these,
So withered, and so wild in their attire,
That look not like th' in habitants o' th' earth
And yet are on 't? Or are you aught
That man may question? You seem to understand
Me
By each at once her choppy finger laying
Upon her skinny lips. You should be women,
And yet your beards forbid me to interpret
That you are so." (I, iii 40-49)
Banquo is very direct with these witches with h...Read entire document
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