![]() Men in general are socialized to rely on aggression and avoid weakness at any cost, but Black men face even more pressure from society, even (or especially) by today's standards. That Macbeth and his most obvious foil are portrayed by Black men in disparate stages of life sets Coen's adaptation apart from so many we've seen in the past. Just like Macbeth's relationship with his wife, the thane's dynamic with Macduff takes on different energy with a more diverse cast. But in many ways, that misleading omen is designed to distract Macbeth (and us) from what's really at stake: the end to a cycle of violence perpetuated by the culture of that time. He's technically the only person who can, according to the witches' prophecy: the Weird Sisters claim that no man born of a woman will ever harm Macbeth, and Macduff was born via cesarean section. ![]() Macduff is the last man standing with a healthy grasp of masculinity, and because of this he is qualified to take on Macbeth and win. ![]() They project a cool, unflappable image, often denying their aggression (or even their ambition) to minimize the threat they inherently present. It makes his transition from unassuming thane to ruthless sovereign all the more surprising - but it also establishes him as something of a " non-threatening Black man." Black men, especially in America, often overcompensate for an "intimidating" nature by suppressing natural emotions like anger and frustration. Macbeth may be a formidable warrior, but Washington portrays him with the relaxed, uncle-like approachability that has endeared the actor to so many in his decades-long career. It's difficult to ignore the power imbalance - and the moral disparity - between a Black Macbeth and his white wife. This would put a strain on any couple's dynamic, but in the hands of Washington and McDormand, the Macbeths' relationship takes on an entirely new layer of subtext. It's Lady Macbeth who eventually goads him into regicide, but she has to insult his manhood to do it. Macbeth strays from masculine expectations when his resolve to kill the king first wavers. Cruelty and ambition are exclusively masculine traits in the world of the story, and those expectations affect the Macbeths in unconventional ways. But "The Tragedy of Macbeth" is also very much about gender: the correlation between masculinity and violence, and empathy in the opposite sex.
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