Gendered Theories
Breana Dyer
20140525 160645.m4a
Feminism ‘Concerned with the relationship between literary texts and the place of women in society. It uses critical methods to demonstrate, explain and challenge the oppression of women.’Feminist reading
Gender assumptions abut women Patriarchal society
Gender stereotypesGenders treated differently from birth
Traits in men and women biological or socially expected?
Carl Jung thought critically ahead of time with gender equality
Gender repression always living up to expectations
Qualities OppositionalE.g
Men WomenLogical EmotionalAggressive NurturingStrong GentleIndependent Rely on others
Shakespeare’s subtlety Characters subvert gender stereotypes Questions traditional society
Created disparity in roles controversial
Very unreal laugh it off unexpected
Subtle yet revolutionary (not upsetting)
Minimal controversy weak side of women and heroic side of men
Certain qualities aren't always accurate
Questions roles and responsibilities attributed to genders
Macbeth in general Brings gender traits in to question
Subverts some qualities of men and women conform in end
Eg. Lady Macbeth, Macduff, Macbeth
Men and women don’t have to exhibit certain qualities
Can assume traits of opposite gender
Shouldn’t stereotype
‘What’s fair is foul and foul is fair’
Don’t judge a book by its cover…
Not always what they seem
Lady Macbeth cruel
Macduff emotional
Lady MacbethAppears delicate and charming’
Typical female of time
Subverts stereotype
Deceiving, cruel, manipulative, violent
We are quick to judge less inclined to judge if man
Accept / expect violence with men
Conforms to society weak / suicide
‘your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t’
Appears innocent and to expectations serpent beneath
Has to hide evil side not expected
‘I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gum, And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you’
Kill own flesh evil unexpected due to mother’s nature/connection
Shouldn’t stereotype
‘unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty’
Wants to take away weaknesses
Craves masculinity
In her mind women can’t have such qualities
Eg. Cruel, strong, etc.
MacbethReluctance towards killing
Goaded for lack of masculinity
Men aren’t cowardly bad trait weak
Subversion of gender roles has to be persuaded
Grew into masculine expectations power
‘But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail’
Lady Macbeth builds up courage for Macbeth
Has to persuade him
Ridicules him for his lack of masculinity
Uses stereotypical expectations to guilt him
Macduff Accepting of his emotions sympathize
Reacted in expected way vengeance
Right amount emotion and anger
Society accepts balance
Revenge on Macbeth
Archetypal hero
‘But I must also feel it as a man’
Macduff doing the ‘manly thing’
‘All my pretty ones?Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?What, all my pretty chickens and their damAt one fell swoop?’
Macduff is emotional
Summary Shakespeare is smart with subversionQuestion roles subtlety Character disparity
References ‘What’s fair is foul and foul is fair’ (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 12)
‘your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under’t’ (Act 1, Scene 5)
‘I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gum, And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you’ (Act 1, Scene 7)
‘But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail’ ( Act 1, Scene 7)
‘But I must also feel it as a man’ (Act 4, Scene 3)
‘All my pretty ones?Did you say all? O hell-kite! All?What, all my pretty chickens and their damAt one fell swoop?’ (Act 4, Scene 3)
Macbeth, 20/05/14, Spark notes, www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/
Notable Quotes, 21/05/14, Shakespeare Navigator, www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/macbeth/
Carl Jung, 23/05/14, Mind Development, http://www.mind-development.eu/jung.htmlFeminism, 25/05/14, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism
Potential essaysFor potential essays, my powerpoint could become quite helpful. My powerpoint explores gender theories and how the characters have been constructed to subvert certain stereotypes.
This information would assist a gendered discourse or certain readings such as a feminist or a gendered view.
It would be very useful for a question on themes as the stereotypes and traditional roles of men and women provides much to talk about. Also, for a question on character construction it would be very effective in talking about the disparity of genders and the obvious subversion of roles