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Luka Pavikjevikj

Elena Nicheva

English 9 Honors

20 March 2020

The evolving relationship between masculinity and balance in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

“I dare do all that may become a man; / Who dares do more is none” (Shakespeare

1.7.46-47) These words adequately outline the theme of masculinity in the play, Macbeth, by

William Shakespeare. The fact that masculinity plays a role of immense relevance in

Macbeth can be attributed to the historical period Shakespeare lived in. The Elizabethan Age

insisted on men living virtuous lives. Throughout the play, the concept of masculinity evolves

in order to emphasize the importance of a balanced human being that embraces both, personal

qualities and weaknesses and is acutely aware of the danger posed by stirring that order.

Macbeth is the ultimate example of a balanced human being that undergoes

metamorphosis to become an unbalanced cruel tyrant. It can be easily forgotten that in the

beginning, Macbeth was a virtuous man, a loyal soldier, whose skill and bravery were

unmatched on the battlefield. He was a noble cousin to the royal house of Scotland. This

security in himself and his virtues was not self-imagined. Indeed, it was confirmed by others.

The sergeant reports the events of a battle to King Duncan. He says: “But all’s too weak; /

For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name” (Shakespeare 1.2.15-16). Macbeth’s

worthiness is acknowledged, not only by his subordinates, even the king of Scotland himself

relishes Macbeth for his service to the realm. King Duncan calls Macbeth “valiant cousin”

and “worthy gentleman” (1.2.24) as well as proclaiming him, on his return, “worthiest”

(Shakespeare 1.4.14). Duncan goes further in prizing Macbeth, publicly saying that: “More is

thy due than more than all can pay” (Shakespeare 1.4.21). Macbeth’s status a loyal and
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virtuous man is secured. However, there is a factor that will stir up that order by exploiting

Macbeth’s ambition. After the battle, Banquo and Macbeth encounter three witches that

divine the future to the two men. They tell Macbeth he is going to become Thane of Cawdor

and king. Macbeth is excited, but worrisome of the witches prospects, realizing their

dubiousness, he resonates that they “cannot be ill; cannot be good.” (Shakespeare 1.3.131)

Thus, Macbeth’s worthiness is recognized, however, ambition, a highly masculine trait, is

exploited for his harm.

Gradually, Macbeth’s self-confidence is decreased, and his mental health is

deteriorating. He becomes increasingly worrisome that his destiny is not to be fulfilled. After

praising Macbeth, Duncan crowns his eldest, Malcolm, Prince of Cumberland. Ever

worrisome, Macbeth decides to become king, by realizing that Malcolm “is a step, / On

which I must fall down, or else o[v]er-leap, / For in my [Macbeth’s] way it lies.”

(Shakespeare 1.4.48-50) And as the old saying goes “desperate times require desperate

measures”, Macbeth starts feeling desperate and he decides to kill King Duncan. After going

back and forth in his deliberation of the murder, it is Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth that

convinces him to act as they have intended. She persuades him in her address:

What beast was’t then

That made you break this enterprise to me?

When you durst do it, then you were you a man;

And to be more than what you were, you would

Be so much more than a man. (Shakespeare 1.7.47-51)

Lady Macbeth delivers a powerful attack on Macbeth, given that she is the only person that is

close to him. She questions Macbeth’s masculinity. For her, Macbeth is a weak man, limited

by his kindness and virtue. In her opinion to prove his masculinity, Macbeth will have to do
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what he desires with no thought given to ethical standards. This strengthens Macbeth’s

resolve: he kills Duncan and becomes king. However, he cannot stop thinking about the

horrible deed he committed. Lady Macbeth gives a laconic reply: “What’s done is done.”

(Shakespeare 3.2.12) According to Lady Macbeth’s advice, murder is a deed for which one

does not need to worry. But, Macbeth still has ethics in himself that activates his

consciousness. Macbeth has become an unhappy man, obsessed that he is about to lose his

throne. Therefore, this fear drives out the last human element left in him- the feeling of guilt.

In the end, Macbeth becomes a cruel despot. He sees a threat in every capable

nobleman left in Scotland. He orchestrated the murders of Duncan and Banquo. He despises

Malcolm and Macduff. Macbeth is so fearful that he visits the three witches one more time to

seek further divination from them. They feed his fears even more by telling him to beware

Macduff. After learning that Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth decides to kill his entire

family. He swears that:

From this moment

The very firstlings of my heart shall be

The firstlings of my hand. And even now,

To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done (Shakespeare 4.1.144-147)

Macbeth promises to fulfill his desires. In his mental blindness, Macbeth does not realize that

desires, when not limited by virtues or society, are primitive and not acceptable. Soon after

this massacre, a coalition is built to unseat him. He is so devoid of human feelings and

emotions that he cannot grief for his wife. However, he delivers a powerful soliloquy on the

news of her death. In it, he describes life as a “tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, /

Signifying nothing” (Shakespeare 5.5.26-28) Macbeth realizes that life led by desires is

meaningless. Afterwards, Macbeth is killed, putting an end to a sad tale.

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Shakespeare employs the theme of masculinity to symbolize the descent of man

following his desires blindly, without paying attention to virtue. As the life of Macbeth

changes, so does this relationship evolve to showcase the importance of a balanced human,

accepting virtue and vice alike. So, should man strive to do more than one should? According

to Macbeth, he should not, for if he does he is no man at all.

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Works cited:

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth, Harper Press, 2010.