In Shakespeare's Macbeth, he uses the theme of manliness to create motivations for the characters to behave like a man. This is seen in many cases in Macbeth where characters try to act like men for certain reasons. The characters who apply this action are Macbeth, the first murderer, Macduff and the young Siward. These actions are seen throughout the play and play a key role in the development of the performance. Macbeth tells himself to behave like a man in the following lines: “I pray thee, peace! / I would dare to do everything that can befit a man; / He who dares to do more is nobody" (I, vii, 45-47). This quote from Macbeth shows how he wants to be a man by killing King Duncan, but he doesn't think this would be an act of righteousness. Macbeth is at odds with himself in this situation. If he does not kill the king, his wife, Lady Macbeth, will not think he is a man, but if he kills the king, he will betray his leader's trust in him. Cheating would not be seen as an act of manliness. Jarold Ramsey explains the situation in the following sentence: “And, striking him more ruthlessly, he contemptuously implies that his very sexuality will be questioned in his eyes if he refuses regicide” (288). This quote from Jarold Ramsey explains how Macbeth's manhood will be determined in Lady Macbeth's eyes when she makes the decision whether or not to kill the king. Lady Macbeth manifests her desire to be queen in the following lines: “What beast was it then / That made you interrupt me this enterprise? /When you dared to do it, then you were a man" (I, vii, 47-49). This quote shows how he wants Macbeth to kill the king. In this situation Macbeth tells himself to be a man and kill the king to please Lady Macbeth. Maria Howell expresses... middle of paper... how disgusting she is when she tries to act like a man, but fails in Malcolm's eyes when she cries over the death of her family. The last character is the young Siward; he tells himself to act like a man and tries to fight Macbeth so that his father will be proud of him. Manliness in Macbeth is evident throughout the play and also plays a key role. Works Cited Coles, Blanche. Shakespearean studies. Macbeth. New York: Richard R. Smith, 1938. Print. Howell, Mary. Virility and male identity in the tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 2008. Print.Ramsey, Jarold. "The Perversion of Manhood in Macbeth." web.nsboro.k12.ma.us. Rice University, March 12, 2010. Web. March 30, 2014. Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Literature: the British tradition. Eds, Kate Kinsella et al. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. Print.