- Their relationship has flipped gender roles - Lady Macbeth is often portrayed as more assertive ambitious and dominant than Macbeth - She emasculates her husband to force him to kill King Duncan in order to prove himself as masculine. "if you weren't a man, then what kind of animal were you when you first told me you wanted to do this? when you dare to do it, that's when you were a man." (1, 7, 47- 48) - throughout the beginning of the story Lady Macbeth constantly challenges Macbeth's masculinity which proves to the audience that she is not the meek fragile powerless woman that most would have perceived her to be.
Similarities: - Both Orsino and Macbeth have a lot of emotional vulnerability and sensitivity. - They both struggle with inner turmoil and moral conflict, especially when it comes to their romantic and ambitious pursuits. - Both characters defy traditional expectations of male stoicism by openly expressing their emotions and vulnerabilities. Differences: - Orsino's emotional vulnerability is directed towards romantic pursuits, and Macbeth's emotional turmoil is from ambition and guilt. - Orsino's emotion while intense are not destructive, Macbeth's emotions are intense and tumultuous which leads to hysteria and irrationality in his character. - Orsino's sensitivity is theatrical and comedic while Macbeth's sensitivity is due to intense trauma and emotional damage from the deeds he commited.
Similarities: - Viola and Lady Macbeth have great intelligence, resourcefulness, and drive, especially when it comes to their goals. - They challenge traditional gender norms by being strategic, ambitious, and assertive. Which were often associated with men. - Both characters take decisive action to control their lives and achieve their ambitions demonstrating determination. Differences: - Viola's intelligence and drive are directed towards survival and her future, Lady Macbeth's is directed towards political power and advancement.
Similarities: - Both Viola and Lady Macbeth understand they need to adopt masculine traits to gain control over their lives and achieve their goals. - They both reject societal expectations of femininity and passivity. - They both understand power dynamics at play in their societies. Differences: - Viola challenges gender norms through decisions and actions and Lady Macbeth challenges them through manipulation and influence over her husband. - Lady Macbeth's actions led to her downfall, Viola's actions led to her climbing up the social hierarchy and finding her brother.

The Challenge to/ Subversion of Gender
Norms

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

Displaying Intellect and Drive

- ambition and smarts were unheard of for women at the time.

- strategic and manipulative towards her husband to achieve her ambitions

- She devises an amazing plan to murder her King which shows her boldness and determination

- ability to manipulate her husband allows us to see her shrewd intellect and resourcefulness.

- Her role as the mastermind behind the scheme to murder King Duncan, challenges traditional gender norms by demonstrating power and pursuit of her goals.

- Throughout the story she defies societal constraints and uses them to her advantage.

Recognizing the Need for Masculity to Thrive

- She was anything but delicate.

- "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" (1.5.42-51) Shows her belief that she must adopt masculine traits to hold power.

- Knows she needs to be masculine to thrive, and she uses her gender to assert authority and influence over her husband.

- protective actions of characters like Macduff, (who attempts to shield her from Macduff) shows perception of women as fragile and powerless.

- Even her husband believes her to be masculine. "may you only give birth to male children, because you're Fearless Spirit could create nothing that isn't masculine." (1,7, 72-74)

Her relationship

Macbeth

His relationship

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Macbeth has mommy issues

Outwardly Emotional

- Emotional turmoil is very evident throughout the entire play

- grapples with guilt and remorse

-has hesitance and reluctance to commit regicide. "we can't go on with this plan. The King has just honored me, and I have earned the good opinion of all sorts of people." (1.7. 32- 35) (men can't hesitate 🤬)

- hesitance, is often attributed to feminine traits, is further emphasized when he succumbs to Lady Macbeth's persuasion.

- Emotions intensify which leads to hysteria and irrationality; which were historically associated with women.

- intense emotions challenge expectations of male stoicism.

Ambition driven by external influence

- ambition, which normally is a masculine trait is shaped by external influences.
- it isn't from desire for power, Macbeth's ambition is fueled by Lady Macbeth and the witches
- susceptible to manipulation- a trait associated with femininity.
- hesitates to act upon his ambition,which contrasts with typical portrayals of masculinity as decisive and uncowardly.
- The involvement of Lady Macbeth and the witches shows interplay between gender and Power because Macbeth's ambition is directly intertwined by the influence of women.

Twelfth Night

Viola (Cesario)

Cross-dressing

- By disguising herself as a man, Viola begins starts doing "male activities" showing that women can do anything.

- She shows her intelligence, wit, and bravery in her daily life, even in act one where she is still dressed as a woman

- Her crossdressing makes characters and audiences to begin to question the nature of gender identity and expression

- We never see Viola acting the part of woman after she dresses as Cesario. Even after Orsino asks Viola to wear women's clothes “Give me thy hand; and let me see thee in thy woman's weeds." (5.1.276), we never see her in feminine clothing.

- Implies a preference for her
male alter ego

- Her willingness to go back to womanhood for Orsino could mean that
she is be comfortable as both genders, or neither.

Displaying Intellect and Drive

- Instead finding a man to protect her or accepting fate, she immediately takes action for her survival.

- She makes a plan and disguises herself as a man and got employed by Duke Orsino.

- She has many resourceful and strategic qualities that are never associated with women in that era.

- She also challenges the stereotype of women being passive or easily overwhelmed by using her wit and charm in social situations.

- She maintains a sense of confidence in her endeavors.

Recognizing the Need for Masculity to Thrive

- Viola understands that presenting herself as a man will give her freedom.

- She could have conformed to societal expectations by simply accepting her fate but instead she takes the opportunity for freedom

- Quickly understands that if she didn't dress as a man, she would not be safe

Duke Orsino

Homosexual tendency

- Has intense homosexual tendencies with Cesario.

- He has a direct emotional attachment to Cesario and confides in him about very personal things

- Seems to not have interest in Olivia's physical appearance in text but then proceeds to talk about Cesario's feminine features in a seductive way. "Thy say thou art a man; Diana's lip is not more smooth and Rubious; thy small pipe is as the maidens organ shrill and sound," (1.4.32-34)

Desire for emotional connection over physical attraction

- His pursuit of Olivia is an emotional connection.

- Doesn't see Olivia as a conquest to be won through physical charm or seduction, its fueled by a deep longing for emotional intimacy and companionship.

- He makes passionate speeches and melancholy music, that show his want for a emotional bond rather than physical gratification.

- Subverts societal norms that often say that men desire physical attraction more than emotional attraction

- "but mine is always as hungry as the sea, and can consume as much. Make no comparison between the love a woman could have for me and that I have for Olivia." (2,4,106-109)

- Orsino compares the depth of his love the hunger as the sea.

- His love seems to be rooted in emotional hunger

Outwardly Emotional

- a hopeless romantic

- challenges gender norms by bringing down expectations of emotional restraint

- Occupation with love and melodramatic expressions of longing and desire of love defies masculinity

- He's vulnerable and sensitive, especially towards Cesario

- He is never aggressive when he is pursuing Olivia

- He still attempts to persuade her instead of using his male authority over her