What is manhood according to the character in Macbeth?

Essay by MythrasHigh School, 11th gradeA, May 2004

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The perception of masculinity has been the object of much thought and theoretical expressions. Though countless debates have taken place upon a variety of fields within the expanse of the classification known as manhood, little clarification has come of it. There remains a wide breach between the various opinions brought forth by individuals throughout the known eons. There exist two standards by which manhood is judge: moral standards and physical appearance. However, betwixt these genres is an innumerable magnitude of minutia. The ethic criterion that determines manliness differs from entity to entity, whether they are maliciousness or compassion; the same goes with fleshly semblance, as each person has their own personal inclinations. Regardless of the way one observes these differentiations, they do subsist albeit impalpably. One may further scrutinize these schisms in the personas of the colorful characters presented in William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

The conflict in this infamous play is the Thane of Glamis, Macbeth.

He seems to be a complete manifestation of the classic, romanticist concepts of the eighteenth century. He is introduced a hero to the common man, fighting a losing battle and yet brandishing his sharpened steel in the face of the enemy as if he had a testament from a transcendent being. This inference is only endorsed as he defeats Macdonwald's forces in what became a savage brawl. These spectacular images proffer a sense of Macbeth's vision of man. A prime excerpt from his dogma of manliness is loyalty to one's king, even if it means dying to do so. When Macbeth "dares do more," using the method of murdering Duncan to do so no less, he quickly becomes disgusted at what he has become. This leads into the accurate assumption that he deems that a true man must be not greedy in what life hands...