Roles of women in Macbeth Women in the Elizabethan era were subservient to men. They were expected to conform to society's expectations by obeying significant male figures in their lives. High-born women were often represented as "assets" to be shared between fathers and husbands. In many cases, they were socially restricted and unable to explore the world around them without chaperones. Women were primarily expected to act as loving caretakers of their family members. In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, however, female figures promote both the idea of ​​unbridled female sexuality and female ideals of being loving caretakers. The dramatic technique that Shakespeare uses to characterize his female figure in the play is the setting, the dialogue of the characters and what the other characters say about them, especially behind their backs. The three main female characters who support but also contradict the archetypes of women are the tyrannical Lady Macbeth, the loving Lady Macduff and finally the mysterious and strange sisters. Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a virago and a heartless demon with a savage contempt for life. When she is first introduced in the play, she is already planning to use violence to create her husband's revolt to become King of Scotland. She has a strong and strong-willed personality, more ambitious and more ruthless than her husband. As a result of her understanding of the power she has over her husband, she is able to manipulate him to great effect. She is able to ignore her goals in order not to kill the king and when he becomes hesitant about murder, she questions his manhood until he feels that murder is the only way to prove his worth. Her husband... middle of paper... otland. Critics see witches and the issue of their gender as a tool that Shakespeare uses to criticize male-dominated culture (Jamieson,1). The witches ultimately further Macbeth's violent ambition and challenge the control he has over his humanity. The witches are seen as the fuel for Macbeth's desires, in terms of their supernatural influence. Perhaps, however, it is Macbeth himself who stimulates the witches; although the witches suggest a possible future for Macbeth, it can be seen that Macbeth uses the words of the witches, to the point where he truly believes he is invincible "None born of woman shall harm Macbeth." This sense of invincibility is also shown towards the end of the play when Macbeth states "put me my armour, give me my staff", which ultimately shows that Macbeth believes he is omnipotent and has the resources of all the elements within him..