Changing Gender Roles in William Shakespeare's MacbethMuch attention has been given to the theme of "manliness" as it appears in Macbeth. In his introduction to Macbeth in The Riverside Shakespeare, Frank Kermode argues that the play is about "the eclipse of civility and manhood, [and] the temporary triumph of evil" (1307). Stephen Greenblatt emphasizes the same idea in The Norton Shakespeare, crediting Lady Macbeth with encouraging her husband both with "sexual taunts" and with "the terrible force of her determination" (2557-58). Macbeth responds to his wife with "a clear sense of the limits of his identity as a man and as a human being, [telling her] 'I dare do all that can become a man;/Who dares do is no one any more' (I.7.46-47)" (2558). Both Kermode's and Greenblatt's notions focus on the way in which Macbeth's masculinity is recognized and defined – by Macbeth himself as well as by the potentially influential people around him The critics who introduced the play into these major anthologies perceived the same weakness in Macbeth's character as the seemingly evil forces at play on it: Macbeth's masculinity becomes the psychological vehicle through which he becomes. furious, inspired, and ultimately spurred into action “Manliness” must be questioned, but it is unlikely to occur in the male-dominated world of battlefields and military victories that Shakespeare introduces in. Act I, scene 2. In this passage, the bloodied captain praises Macbeth's heroism, disputing it. . . brave Macbeth, well, he deserves that name! Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel Who smoked with bloody execution, Like a valorous servant, Traced his path till he faced the slave, Who did not...... middle of paper. .. ... Association of Modern Language Universities 70 (November 1988): 366-85. Dolan, Frances. The Taming of the Shrew: texts and contexts. Boston: Bedford, 1996. Greenblatt, Stephen. “Introducing Macbeth.” The Norton Shakespeare. New York: Norton, 1997. 2555-63. Hawkins, Michael. “History, politics and Macbeth.” Focus on Macbeth. Ed. John Russell Brown. London: Routledge, 1982. 155-88. Kermode, Frank. “Introducing Macbeth.” The Shakespeare by the River. Boston: Houghton, 1974. 1307-11. Stallybrass, Peter. “Macbeth and Witchcraft.” Focus on Macbeth. Ed. John Russell Brown. London: Routledge, 1982. 189-209. Williamsson, Marily L. “Violence and gender ideology”. Shakespeare left and right. Ed. Ivo Kamps et al. New York: Routledge, 1991. 157-66. Winstanley, Lilian. Macbeth, King Lear and contemporary history. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1922.