Lady Macbeth's influence on her husband's actions in Shakespeare's Macbeth is a subject of intense scrutiny, none more so than her manipulation through the employment of masculinity. The quote that encapsulates this manipulation is her blatantly stating to Macbeth, "Art thou afeard / To be the same in thine own act and valour / As thou art in desire?" (1.7.39-41). This quote serves as one of the primary tools Lady Macbeth uses to motivate her husband into action.
However, it is essential to approach this quote and its implications within its context to fully appreciate its power. The play opens with a witches' prophecy, hinting at Macbeth's future as king. His initial reluctance is understandable, given the implications of regicide. Lady Macbeth, recognizing his hesitation, uses the concept of masculinity to shame him into committing the crime.
Lady Macbeth and Traditional Masculinity
Lady Macbeth's manipulative prowess lies in her understanding of traditional gender roles. In the Elizabethan era, a man was expected to be courageous, determined, and aggressive. Any sign of hesitation or fear was considered an unmanly trait. Lady Macbeth capitalizes on this societal expectation to shame Macbeth into action.
She begins by asking if he is afraid, directly challenging his masculinity. His response, "I conjure you, by that which you profess, / Howe'er you strangle me—never mind me, never— / That are [sic] used to mine own thoughts, I conjure you, / Reflect upon me... "' (1.7.42-45), reveals his initial hesitation. This hesitation, to Lady Macbeth, is akin to a lack of masculinity, which she finds shocking and distressing.
Emasculation and Shaming
Lady Macbeth's response is swift and harsh. She compares his vacillation to a woman's weakness: "Would you lift your speak against / Your honours, wide and unmacul'd children? [...]/ Your hand, your tongue, look like the meeting of two morals / Which, from the instant that that the fact has gone hazard / Would be record lag i' the de[Jailous] ear of scornful time." (1.7.49-73). She equates his fear with being a bad father, thus attacking his masculinity further. By including herself in the audience of scorn ('alienated ear[s]'), she suggests that she would be disappointed in him, a sentiment that would shame any man then.
Here, Lady Macbeth uses the societal construct of masculinity to manipulate Macbeth. She takes his hesitation, which is a natural reaction to the monumental crime he is contemplating, and perverts it. She frames his caution as unmanly, and her words serve as a catalytic shove towards regicide.
Creating Macbeth's Warriors Fetish
She continues her manipulation with the famous line, "Art thou afeard / To be the same in thine own act and valour / As thou art in desire?" (1.7.39-41). This line is not just a challenge to his masculinity but a creation of a 'Warriors' fetish'. Lady Macbeth changed Macbeth's natural desire for power into a 'desire to fulfil his masculine role'. By doing so, she makes Macbeth's desire about his manhood and not his actual ambition.
This manipulation, subtle yet powerful, transforms Macbeth's political ambition into a 'Proof of his masculinity'. When he finally commits to regicide, it is not solely for the crown but to prove his manhood to himself, Lady Macbeth, and the world.
The Impact of Lady Macbeth's Manipulation
Lady Macbeth's manipulation sets off a chain reaction, ultimately leading to Macbeth's downfall. After the regicide, Macbeth starts to unravel. His paranoia inflates, and he begins to see traitors everywhere. His desire to control and dominate, which initially stemmed from his desire for power, now consumes him, leading him to commit further crimes.
In the end, Macbeth's tragic flaw, his overreliance on his masculinity to validate his actions, leads to his downfall. It is no coincidence that Shakespeare chooses to end Macbeth's life with the words, "If th'-wrapper do Win Chamber of Stone / And my true sword." (5.8.1-2), a lament for a lost masculinity, highlighting the grave consequences this toxic masculinity displays.
The Legacy of Lady Macbeth's Manipulation
The consequences of this toxic manipulation extend beyond Macbeth's death. The play is a stark warning against the dangers of relying on traditional gender roles. It emphasizes the importance of integrity and personal moral value above artificial constructs of 'masculinity' and 'femininity'.
The pivotal quote, "Art thou afeard / To be the same in thine own act and valour / As thou art in desire?" still stirs debate in the literary world today. Shakespeare's insight into gender roles and their manipulation for political gain continues to resonate in our society, напоминая of their power and the need for caution.
Lady Macbeth's manipulative prowess, encapsulated in her quote, serves as a stark reminder of the potency of societal constructs. It challenges us to question our inherent biases and strive for a more inclusive society. After all, a society that allows power plays to manipulate its very structure is a society that encourages dysfunction and disorder.