Feminism is defined to be the belief to have social, political and economic equality of the sexes. Macbeth, a Shakespearean play written in the Elizabethan era demonstrates the marginalization of the sexes. The play focuses on Macbeth's tragic journey from being an innocent man to a remorseless assassin who gets slain by one his friends. Not only does Macbeth demonstrate the fall of a noble man but also when looked through the eyes of a feminist lens, it is clear that Macbeth's need to fulfill the masculine ideal influenced his fall. This play also shows the gender expectations, as men are to be fearless and protectors and women are meant to be weak. Therefore, gender stereotypes are present throughout the play and are evidently shown when characters are gravely punished for not acting on their sexist roles.
Throughout the Shakespearean play, the main male characters are stereotypically perceived to be fearless. After killing the rightful king of Scotland, Macbeth starts to show signs of fear. Macbeth confesses to Lady Macbeth that he could no longer utter the word amen after saying a prayer. .
"One cried 'God bless us!' and 'Amen' the other;.
As they had seen me with these hangman's hands.
Listening their fear, I could not say 'Amen,'.
When they did say 'God bless us!'." (2.3.36-40).
He tells Lady Macbeth that he feels as if there are prying eyes all around him, watching him running through the halls with his blood stained hands. He says that he hears prayers in his head but "could not say Amen" after he finished his prayer to get God's blessing, showing that he is fearful of being caught with literal blood on his hands. Macbeth desperately asks for his wife's help to take away his punishment. He is afraid of the consequences that he is going to face not on only on judgement day and also the horrors coming his way while he lives. He holds onto the word amen in order to correct himself but cannot.
