Originally Posted by
TheOnlyOne
We've been recently discussing the gender expectations and natural order ideals of the Elizabethan era as seen in Shakespeare's Macbeth. Although both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth upset gender expectations with an inverse of roles, as well as the natural order through the murder of the king, they also display dominant gender traits.
Also discussed was that of Macduff, who was considered a 'true' Elizabethan. However, he himself left both his wife and children to die when he went to ride with Malcolm, the King's son, to war against Macbeth. How would this be perceived as a dominant masculine trait?
Any thoughts on both the gender expectations and disruption of natural order would be greatly appreciated.