Gregory Lipkovich Blog

Gregory Lipkovich 12/18/19

PD. 5

Aim: When juxtaposed against Macbeth, how does the characterization of Macduff, and the themes of the play, illuminate the societal pressures placed on both genders? 

The class discussed societal pressures of the opposite gender. I discussed the cultural pressures each part of the world place on different genders and how people may feel or react to that. My group mates discussed that women and men should act a certain way and should conform to societal norms. Other groups said that there are double standards and that men have to look a certain way, and women do too. Jake said that standards are often hard to reach for certain people. Mark said that there are “package deals” that come biologically with each gender. 

Ms. Fusaro mentioned that throughout the play Lady Macbeth and Macbeth change from their original self. Macbeth turns to toxic masculinity and Lady Macbeth asks to “unsex” herself so that she can become less feminine.  

Then we read Scenes 2 and 3, Act 4. Ms. Fusaro says that Macbeth reaches a point of hubris that the warnings do not matter to him. Macbeth plans to kill all of Macduff’s household while he is in England, planning to overthrow Macbeth. I mentioned that if Macbeth kills all of Macduff’s family members, his plan will become more on a personal level.