Is it his height?
His strength?
His handiness?
His facial hair abilities?
His body odor? (just kidding…kind of)
The definition of what a "man" should look like varies from person to person and from era to era. It depends the culture and upbringing of a person to create the bias that influences how they perceive men. In the era of Macbeth (or at least the era where Macbeth was set) a man was supposed to be viewed as an aggressive warrior type who wanted to consume power no matter what he would have to do to possess it. For example, when Lady Macbeth was trying to get the courage to murder the king, she wanted to become more like a man, because she thought that it was manly to murder someone to gain power. She also thought it manly to not feel guilt about harsh deeds. In Act I, Scene V, she asks the spirits to "unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood; stop up the access and passage to remorse."
A "good man" is another debatable term that many people react to differently. There are multitudes of songs defining and debating manhood including "I'm Still a Guy" by Brad Paisley. Paisley sings, "These days there's dudes getting facials, manicured, waxed and bottomed, with deep spray-on tans and creamy lotiony hands you can't grip a tackle box. With all of these men lining up to get neutered, it's hip now to be feminized. I don't highlight my hair, I've still got a pair. Yeah honey, I'm still a guy. Oh my eyebrows ain't plucked. There's a gun in my truck, Oh thank God, I'm still a guy." Paisley is perpetuating the aggressive stereotype expressed by Lady Macbeth that a man must be rough and tough. He also brings up the "having a pair" situation…which is awkward to include in an English blog, but what the hay! It's a common topic that many guys bring up when it comes to "manliness".
However, in the song "Ain't Got Nothin'" by The Kickin Grass Band, the lead singer verbalizes that her dad used to tell her, "It don't take britches to make a man, it takes a good woman with a loving hand. And your Momma's in the kitchen frying bread on the pan, so you know we'll be okay." This song implies that a good man loves his wife and has a solid family foundation. This kindness yet again goes against Lady Macbeth's view that only women can be kind. In the same scene as before, she writes, "Yet I do fear thy nature; it is too full o' the milk of human kindness."
Personally, I think that a "good man" is someone who is confident in himself, yet humble. He spends time with his family, and makes a point to help lead them toward a Christ-ly love. He is a protecter, but also a willing caregiver. I am not one for setting gender roles in place, and I do not think that a man "leads" by making all the money or not doing any chores around the house, but I do think that a man should set a good example for the rest of his family, as should his wife. A good man will put others before himself and admit fault when he does something wrong. He will love others and will be conscious of those around him. While a good man does not have to live up to all of these "good man" standards 24/7, he should somewhat try to meet these goals of a modern man's "goodness".
Can I get an aMEN?
