If we didn't know better, we'd think Shakespeare was listening to "Macho Man" on his iPod when he wrote King John.
In the medieval warrior culture of this play, there are totally different expectations for the behavior of men and women. Women were supposed to be meek and emotional, while men were supposed to be violent and stoic. This attitude comes through at several points in the play, for example when male characters beat themselves up for crying (and thus behaving in a womanly fashion).
But men in the play don't only contrast themselves with women; they also compete with other men, in a quest to be as macho as possible. The master of this type of activity is the Bastard, who is constantly making crude comments about his brother, and his brother's father, Robert Falconbridge, Sr., by saying that they aren't real men due to their lack of strength and sexual prowess.
Even though the Bastard mellows out in some ways as the play progresses, he never abandons his strong interest in displaying characteristically masculine virtues. Do you think the events of this play would have turned out differently if these dudes weren't all so obsessed with their macho-ness?
Questions About Men and Masculinity
- Why do you think the Bastard is so obsessed with being macho?
- Is there any male character who significantly fails to live up to the era's standards of masculinity? If so, how is he portrayed in the play as a result?
- Why are traditionally masculine virtues so important in the medieval society of King John?
- In King John, does trying to be macho have a positive effect, a negative effect, or a neutral effect?
Chew on This
The Bastard is so obsessed with being macho because, as an outsider, he feels like he has to go that much further to prove his personal worthiness.
In King John, characters like the Bastard define masculinity according to sexual ability and military strength.