Ambition is a quality that no man lacks, as all men have their ambitions. Once the Thane of Glamis, Macbeth was hooked to his ambitious desire for power. Macbeth's ambitions were at first questioned by himself, after telling his wife that they're not going to kill King Duncan she accuses him of cowardice, and he pleads, "Prithee, peace: / I dare do all that may become a man; / Who dares do more is none" (1.7.46-48). His belief at this time is that a real man wouldn't commit murder. The “dares do more” refers to crossing the line between an honorable kill and an act of sin. In Lady Macbeth's eyes if Macbeth did not kill Duncan than he would not be a man to her anymore, she believes that “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (1.7.47-49). Lady Macbeth also believes he would be denying all urges for greater wealth and prosperity that man should have if he doesn't kill the king. Leaving behind all perspectives of right or wrong, Lady Macbeth wonders why he is not taking the opportunity to be king when he can easily do so. In reality, Macbeth is contemplating the murder of Macbeth because he has morals, qualities that are also considered manly.

Macbeth's journey takes a dark turn when his once high morals begin to decay. After Macbeth was persuaded to kill the king by his wife, his view on what makes a man changed. When Macbeth tries to convince the murderers of all the terrible deeds Banquo has brought upon them, they reply by stating "We are men, my liege" (3.1.102-107). They would not kill unjustified, which is what Macbeth initially believed about killing the king when he identified murder with sin. However, Macbeth replies sarcastically in anger:

Ay, in the catalogue ye go for men,

As hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,

curs,

Shoughs, water-rugs and demi-wolves, are clept

All by the name of dogs. (3.1.102-107)

He compares them to “hounds and greyhounds, mongrels, spaniels,” and not true men. Macbeth believes they pretend to act as men, and that the only way they can become real men is if they kill Banquo. This is one of the first significant events where Macbeth changes his view on what defines a man after have murdering Duncan. Macbeth ends up convincing the murderers “That it was he [Banquo] in the times past which held you” (3.1.76). The “held you” refers to the times Banquo held back or made poor the murderers.

High morals are usually directly related to the patriotic behaviors shown in the play. When the news of the death of his son reaches Siward, he is strangely unmoved. However, pleased in the knowledge that his son died an honorable man, fighting for his cause, he is happy knowing that his sons wounds were on his chest, that his son was not killed running away, “But like a man he died” (5.8.39-43). Though the boy had not reached physical masculinity, that he was still one of the “unrough youths” (5.2.10), he had proven his manliness through his courage in battle. When Ross tells Siward that his son had marks on the front of his body, his father is proud and brags about his death, "Why then, God's solider be he” (5.8.l46). The boy's father seems to have no grief over his son's death, but instead rejoices that his son “Protest[s] their [his] first of manhood.” This simply means that his son had adequately proven himself worthy to be called a true man.

When it is generally thought that honor, patriotism, and courage are attributes associated with men, the barrier between genders is broken in Macbeth. Especially in terms of violence, women such as Lady Macbeth are capable of murderous and violent actions. Her only barricade is her gender, to do what men do, she must essentially become a man:

Come, you spirits

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,

And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full

Of direst cruelty! (1.5.40-43)

Lady Macbeth is a man trapped in a woman's body. Her masculine nature seeps through her murderous intentions. If the spirits "unsex" her, she won't be bothered by a woman's kindess or remorse. She will be a cruel killer of “direst cruelty,” like a man. Lady Macbeth begins to lose her sanity the night of Duncun's murder and cannot relate to her feelings or guilty conscience. She admits that "she could kill her only child just as easy” (1.7.72-74). All perception of right and wrong lost, Lady Macbeth sinks afterwards into guilt, and eventually commits suicide. Also questioning the barrier separating men from women are the wyrd sisters. Banquo challenges the witches, "you should be women, / And yet your beards forbid me to interpret / That you are so" (1.3.45-47). This gender confusion further symbolizes the confusion Lady Macbeth has in awakening her masculine side.

By the end of the play Macbeth pays dearly for his masculine ways, with death. Ultimately beginning and ending on the battlefield, Macbeth has always agreed that violence and combat was a sure way of proving masculinity. Macduff believed this too, but also thought there was more to a real man than only thoughtless violence. When Macduff realizes that his wife and children have been murdered, he breaks down and begins to weep. Malcolm tells him to “Dispute it like a man” (4.3.259), wanting Macduff to keep his emotions in check. Malcolm affirms his belief that real men don't cry when he says this, but Macduff believes differently, as when he states “I shall do so, / but I must also feel it as a man” (4.3.260). Macduff then promises to convert these emotions into a “manly” revenge against Macbeth. The end of Macbeth reveals there is much more to masculinity than meets physical appearance, that it is only something earned through one's courageous actions and sincere emotions.