In the plays Othello and Macbeth, masculinity or acting in a manly way is a central theme and a very distinct characteristic of the male (and some of the female) characters in these plays. However it seems to be the case that often masculinity equals brutality or excessive aggression. It also seems that if men ...
The character of Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s greatest literary achievements. She possesses a manipulative cruelty that influences the characters to do evil. But the true genius of Lady Macbeth is perhaps overlooked by casual readers of Macbeth who are unfamiliar with Elizabethan society. Shakespeare appealed to the audiences of his day by transforming ...
Yes, there was a real Macbeth. His full name was Mac Bhetha mac Fhionnlaigh, and he was sometimes called Ri Deircc, “the Red King.” He was a High King of Scotland, apparently, and not the High King. Unlike Shakespeare’s character, the historical Macbeth was not a tyrant, but a good ruler, who enjoyed a long ...
