- - - Who or what is in control in the play? Are the witches in
control, are the characters in control of their own actions or is
everything predetermined by fate? Please defend your response.
-
- - Explain the significance of Shakespeare drawing distinctions
between masculinity and femininity in the play, and of his use of
contrast. Support your response.
In the play Macbeth, the ones who are in control of actions and what occurs, are the characters themselves. It could be argued that the witches are in charge. They come up with a prophecy or some sort of future telling and people act upon that. The witches do have some sort of power because the characters act upon what the witches say. However, it is the each individual characters choice on what action to take. Their decision might be influenced by the witches. Everyone is in control of their actions. No one person controls the universe or what happens inside of it. There is no fate. Each individual makes their own decision.
ReplyDeleteThe roles of men and women have shifted a tad in Shakespeare's story. One example is the witches. They are females. Females were not looked upon as too high up on the ladder. They were simple people who listened to their husbands. However the female witches are sort of trying to take charge. They are not letting a man put them down. They do what they wish and get away with it as well. Another example is Lady Macbeth. She herself wishes to become masculine if that is what it takes to set things "right". Her husband is obviously too weak to do it in her opinion. She is willing to change herself is that means the prophecy will come true.
In the play, the witches and the characters are in control of other peoples actions. The witches are able to set up the plots by delivering the message that fate has brought to them about a character. Once it is received by that character, he or she is able to control their future by working towards what fate has said about them. Whether they like their fate or not, there minds are now set on that specific event to happen to them. When the three witches delievered the message to Macbeth about him becoming king in the future, he is automatically determined to work towards making that predicition true. No matter what obstacle he is faced with, such as Banquo, he comes up with a plan in order to over come it.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare draws distinctions between masculinity and femininity to saturize the characters in the play. On the outside Macbeth is shown as a strong leader that can take on anything that comes his way but shakespeare shows he is not so tuff on the inside by making Macbeth think to himself that he dreads the day he will have to chose murder to get what he wants. Lady Macbeth on the other hand is shown as more manly than Macbeth will ever be by expressing her thoughts about how she is willing to take down Banquo for Macbeth in order for him to be king. Although she may look like an adverage women on the outside, her mind it set on her prize and she is willing to do whatever it takes to acheive it. Even if it means that murder is going to be taking place. Shakespeare also uses contrast to show how deceiving things seem to be. When the witches state "fair is foul, and foul is fair", it shows that everyone that is good in the world is turning bad and the conniving things they do makes them pleased.
I believe that everything that has led to up to this point in the play has been controlled by the witches. The reason I think this is that so far everything that they have said would happen has come true. The reason that it is able to come true is because the witches state that it is right and just as the prophecy says. The reader is led to believe that the witches have all the power because of all the deaths that are shown as a result. One example of this is when the witches tell Macbeth that he will be the new thane of Cawdor and the old thane ends up dying. This happens because it is shown to be how the prophecy wants everything to go and how it will end up. It seems like the witches will do anything to make the prophecy work out even go to the length of killing different people for it to be what they want.
ReplyDeleteThe significance of Shakespeare drawing distinctions in the play between the characters is used because he wants to show the character’s traits. He uses this to show how the characters really feel about each other also and to show underlying traits that you would not be able to see at first glance. I think he uses the distinction to show foreshadowing of what will happen later in the play. He is showing that Lady Macbeth is tougher than Macbeth is even though he uses the facade of being tough. With the femininity I think he is showing that women were more powerful back then people thought they were capable of being. He uses the contrast to show the characters more and how their minds work. It shows how some are alike and others are not. He uses it to also add more of a dramatic appeal to the play for the reader.
--- I think the characters are in control of the play. All of the characters have the ability to decide their own actions. However, there are those who control other characters. For example, Lady Macbeth tries to control Macbeth's decisions, in which she ultimately succeeds. all of the characters are capable of making their own decisions and if Macbeth could have gotten over his potential desire for power, then he could have resisted agreeing to kill Duncan.
ReplyDelete--- I think the significance of the distinctions between masculinity and femininity shows how some characters are capable of performing actions that others may not. For example, Lady Macbeth wants her femininity to be replaced by masculinity so she can kill Duncan. Also she calls Macbeth a coward when he refuses to kill Duncan and questions his masculinity. We can derive from this that at least Lady Macbeth thinks that masculinity holds the strength capable for murder and other dark deeds. The contrast between masculinity and femininity potentially shows that some characters will be able to perform tasks that others may not.
The characters control their own actions. Although the witches know that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor, they also say that he will become king as well. It is already shown that Duncan’s son will is the heir to the throne. The witches do not control fate, but toy with the future by placing the possibility of Macbeth becoming king into his and his wife’s mind. That idea that is implanted will not be removed from the mind. But Macbeth who seems to be a victim of fate will let it play out as it may. On the contrasting side with Macbeth’s wife is in control of her actions by saying that she will kill the king so Macbeth can take his place. She controls her actions instead of letting it be and if he was meant to be king he will be.
ReplyDeleteThe distinction between masculinity and femininity is drawn because it wants to be shown that masculinity trumps femininity. That is shown in the play with Lady Macbeth. She is displayed with masculine characteristics and is questioning Macbeth masculinity. Her masculine characteristics show that feminine individuals will never get anything done. While she criticizes Macbeth for having feminine characteristics, she also knows that because of those he will never do what it takes to acquire the throne. To make up for her husband’s lack in masculinity, she asks the spirits to give her those qualities. Because she is taking up what her husband does not have displays that feminine individuals will not create a life for themselves. The contrast is used to reveal the internal conflict in a character. Macbeth first speaks with a line of contrast. That contrast that he speaks is of both good and bad. Therefore showing that the good is in him becoming a thane over two different places and the bad is what he may have to do to acquire the throne from the king.
1) The characters are in control of their own actions. The witches simply gave Macbeth information that may or may not have been true. It is what Macbeth does with this information that is his own choice. He shares it with Lady Macbeth and she then develops a plan to make Macbeth King. If the witches were controlling the play then they would keep telling the characters what to do. If fate were in control then the characters would step back and act how they normally would. The fact that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are devising plans and going out of their way to murder shows that the characters are in control of how the play will turn out.
ReplyDelete2) The significance of masculinity and femininity and contrast are used in "Macbeth" to break tradition and for people to find deeper meanings. The distinction of Macbeth's femininity compared to his wife's masculinity is something uncommon in the time the play was written. Normally the male was in control and thought of the plans but in this case Lady Macbeth is telling her husband what to do for the murder. The ruthless evil urges of Lady Macbeth shows that her character is a strong force to mess with. On the other hand, Macbeth is more "kindhearted" or in other words weak according to Lady Macbeth. The nature of Macbeth foreshadows he would not be able to go through with the murders the urgency of Lady Macbeth is what will encourage him to kill. The contrasts between the two characters are representations of foil characters to show the audience specific traits that each possess. When Lady Macbeth discovers her husband is supposed to be king, she says he has too much human kindness and will not be able to kill. She continues and says "That I may pour my spirits in thine ear" meaning she wishes she could give Macbeth her evil nature so he would kill the king. That line presented shows the contrast that Lady Macbeth could kill but does not think her husband will be able to.
Fate is in complete control in the play. The witches tell Macbeth of his fate and it immediately becomes true. They told Macbeth that he would become thane of Cawdor and then the king of Scotland. Immediately after, he is given the title of thane of Cawdor. In order to pursue his fate of becoming king, he must kill Duncan. Macbeth, however, does not want to kill the king so he relies on fate to remove him from power so he can claim the title of king. Macbeth's life is already planned and he has no control over his fate. He knows this and decides to give into it and allows his life play out as it is determined to happen.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare often draws distinctions between the ideas of masculinity and femininity throughout Macbeth. He does this to challenge the typical roles of men and women in society. When Macbeth and Banquo first see the witches they are think men because they have beards which is a masculine characteristic. Shakespeare also contrasts masculinity and femininity with Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. When Lady Macbeth reads the letter from her husband, she uses a feminine description stating that he is "too full o' the milk of human kindness." Lady Macbeth takes control of Macbeth's prophecy to ensure his fate of becoming king. Macbeth is weak and scared which are described as being more feminine qualities, not those of a solider or a king. Lady Macbeth is strong and confident in her ability to take a life and wishes she could change into a man to accomplish what her husband will not and become king herself. This is not how a woman would think or behave. He uses contrast of masculinity and femininity to challenge the typical way men and women were expected to act.
In Macbeth, a series of events takes place in a way that leaves the reader to decide who is effecting the outcome of the story. While characters are left with choices, whatever they pick was their true fate because fate is only the development of events beyond a person's control. The choices that can be made do not always have effect on the individuals' kismet. For example, the plot shows Macbeth becoming the thane of Cawdor. This is the outcome meant to be, and because Macbeth cannot be warned of this in any way, the outcome cannot be changed. Even the witches warning that he will become king is not changing/controlling the outcome, because the outcome is already set and the witches are simply part of the path to the outcome. One can change what he thinks his fate is, and even believe he did after, but in reality, the outcome has already been determined.
ReplyDeleteThe purpose for diverging masculinity and femininity was to show Shakespeare's beliefs and the beliefs of the time on each. By bringing up situations in which the two are mentioned, we are offered an insight of Shakespeare's perspective. When Lady Macbeth states "That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty." She is stating that she wants the evil heartless qualities of a man if she is to kill the king. By reading this statement, we can see that Shakespeare's idea of manhood is to be a strong willed individual who is not afraid to crush others for their own ambitious ways. This is implemented in a very similar fashion as the use of contrast in the play. The direct contradictions offered by Shakespeare are what display details of the play. "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" this statement emphasizes a contrast that is very obvious. By using this contrast, Shakespeare is calling attention to the line, and drawing readers interest.
---In the play, the characters are in control of their own fate. Macbeths fate only seems predetermined because he is doing nothing about it. He does have the capability to not listen to his wife and to not kill Malcolm. In the play we see that this bothers Macbeth but he is not attempting to change his fate. This could also be part of his tragic flaw since this is going to cause bigger problems later.
ReplyDelete--- Shakespeare is showing that you don't have to be a man to be masculine and don't need to be a women to be feminine. The role switch is to show that everyone is capable of the same evils. Lady Macbeth is showing thoughts that for the time the play was written was unladylike. Macbeth is instead going with the flow of things as the wife should of for the time.
From what I have seen thus far, it appears as though the characters are attempting to catch up with fate, as if they are being directed by it. Fate seems to be in control because it is influencing the actions, thoughts, and inevitably the ambitions of the cast of characters. For instance, Macbeth at the sound of being crowned thane quickly turns to plotting the downfall of Duncan, whom he is closely tied. The witches played a role in establishing the plot by setting fate in motion. Since the nature of this play is a tragedy, after all, one can expect that regardless of the incentive of the characters at fault, they cannot overcome their tragic flaw. So in this regard, it seems like characters such as Macbeth and his wife will fall victim to the trail that fate is steering them toward. Not everything is predetermined by fate, and in fact it may not even be really true. It could just be that those who predispose the characters to believe in it are playing on their faults.
ReplyDeleteThere is beauty in contrast, particularly in the form of art. Men and women seem to be predisposed one way or another to believe themselves entitled to act a certain way, or portray certain, specific qualities characteristic of that nature. For instance, men often believe themselves to be more masculine and entitled to power over women, also taking on more aggressive and physical labor and work. The ploy is to use that against them, exposing their actuality beyond their false beliefs. Likewise, Shakespeare is contrasting the role of how women may be predisposed to act with how aggressive and masculine Macbeth's wife, for instance, acts. It seems already that this will play a key role in the events coming, for example how Macbeth's wife threatens that the king coming to their home "shall sun that morrow see." Through Shakespeare's contrast, his wife is showing another side to femininity, and that it is not limited to the definition. She is taking matters into her own hands as a consequence of feminine shortcomings of Macbeth.
After reading Act I of Macbeth, I believe the witches are in control of the play. As mentioned in class, the Three Witches are also known as the Wyrd Sisters. In this context, wyrd refers to the word fate. In other words, the witches are able to predetermine fate and control the people’s actions. Act I Scene 1 of Macbeth starts out with a strange conversation between the three witches. The First Witch asks when shall they meet again, while the Second Witch replies by saying when the battle is over and won. However, in line 5, the Third Witch responds to them by saying, “That will be ere the set of sun.” So, the Third Witch is stating that the battle will be over tomorrow morning. Also, at the end of this conversation, they begin to chant, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” This statement allows the witches to set up contrast throughout Macbeth. In Act I Scene 3, the witches begin to talk about how Macbeth is going to become the king of Cawdor. When Macbeth encounters the witches in this scene, they begin shout “All hail, Macbeth!,” and lead Macbeth to believe that he is going to become the king of Cawdor. Although Macbeth is able to be in control of his own actions, he is under control by the witches. This is shown in the play when he writes a letter to Lady Macbeth informing her of the news, or predetermined fate, he just received. After Lady Macbeth receives this news, she feels it is necessary for Macbeth or herself to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth is also able to be in control of her own actions, however the news she received originated from the Three witches. If the witches did not reveal this news to Macbeth, then Lady Macbeth would not find killing Duncan relevant. The Three Witches control the play by predetermining events and the fate of characters throughout Macbeth.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare draws distinctions between masculinity and femininity to show the unexpected actions of man and woman. He shows how a man is an important figure in society. However, he also shows how gender roles have become disrupted. This idea is displayed after Lady Macbeth receives the letter from Macbeth. After reading it, she takes it upon herself to take action and kill Duncan. She thinks Macbeth is not manly enough to do what it takes to be king and is unable to perform the evil task. Lady Macbeth already knows what needs to be done. She is now revealing her masculinity and feels it is necessary to kill Duncan. Also, the Three Witches are shown as manly figures that predetermine fate. They posses masculinity to over power the characters of Macbeth. Shakespeare uses these gender roles to show how men and women have progressed throughout society. I feel Shakespeare chooses to use include the contrast between masculinity and femininity to reveal each characters’ personalities. The contrast shows how the characters of Macbeth do not posses the typical qualities of society in that time period. It shows how women become powerful and posses masculine qualities to get what they want.
Fate seems to predetermine everything in the play. The witches only seem to guide the fate by either speaking in prophecies or carrying out actions to progress the fate. This is seen in their prophecy of Macbeth becoming king, although it doesn't happen right away fate will end up granting him the kinghood.
ReplyDeleteIt is important in the idea of gender roles and the reversal of them. As Lady Macbeth propels her husband toward murdering Duncan, she indicates that she must take on masculine characteristics. She moves on to dominate their relationship making all the major calls. We also see this switch of gender roles as the witches have beards yet are supposed to be women.
I believe that the characters in the tragedy act on what they believe to be their fate, but they have the ultimate control over the actions. This belief is supported several times throughout the text by several characters. The captain speaks to Duncan and says, “For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-, Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel.” These lines foreshadow that Macbeth may be changing his own fortune by rejecting the fortune he is given and taking life into his own hands. Later in Scene 3, the witches speak a prophecy to Macbeth, saying that he will become king before either of Duncan’s sons. Macbeth wrote this in a letter that Lady Macbeth reads. Macbeth does consider killing Duncan because he is unaware of another way to reach such a goal, however, he does not act upon the thought. Evil is within Macbeth when he considers murder, but he fights the idea the witches have given and maintains composure. He dominates the power of evil. Upon understanding this, Lady Macbeth decides to take it upon herself to make this prophecy a reality and plans to kill Duncan. She is going to act upon what she believes to be the fate of Macbeth, which is to become king. She is taking his spoken fate into control and plans to make the event happen. The witches say these things are going to happen, and their predictions drive actions. They are manipulative, but they are not in total control of these situations. Although Shakespeare placed a heavy belief on the idea of fate, I think the characters in this play act upon what they have heard, and that they have ultimate control over what is going to happen to them thus far. Allowing control will further complicate the plot.
ReplyDeleteI believe Shakespeare uses the concept of masculinity and femininity to point out the opposites of characters. He is throwing ideas of masculinity and femininity at each other to create a conflict in the reader’s mind and leaves the rest to the reader to sort out. Banquo talks to the witches and says, “You should be women, And yet your beards forbid me to interpret That you are so.” They are called sisters, but they have facial hair. The first words they say are a contrast. I interpret this as being characters of contrast, built to make you question what they have to say. They have predicted everything in Macbeth’s life and shown that they exercise control over his actions. Not only do they contrast masculine and feminine physical features, but also their actions. The Lady of Macbeth describes Macbeth himself as “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” which is very feminine because Macbeth is supposed to be a fierce warrior. He walked around with the enemy’s head on his sword, but doesn’t have the nerve to kill his friend to reach his own ambitions. She is supposed to be this pretty woman, but claims she will assume the duties of Macbeth because she has the masculine qualities to do so. She even tells the gods to change her into a man right there because she feels she could be a better man than Macbeth. Ultimately, Shakespeare wants to blast the reader with ideas, and from there, have the reader determine what he or she believes to be masculine and feminine. The characters will continue to show contrast in this idea throughout the tragedy in order to show how they work together in the real world.
In the play, Macbeth is controlled by fate on such "foul and fair a day" when he recievs information from the witches that cause him to believe that it is his destiny to be king and he must commit heinous crimes in order to ensure his fate. For example, "fair is foul, and foul is fair". Situations like murdering the thane of Cawdor are set as being fair and repeat themselves throughout the play. All of the confusing lines of the witches eventually come true and we may be led to believe that the witches have control over Macbeth's actions and desires.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Lady Macbeth is the focus of a lot of the exploration of gender roles in Macbeth. As Lady Macbeth urges her husband to murder Duncan, she indicates that she must take on masculine traits. After reading the letter that Macbeth sends her about the kings pending visit, Lady Macbeth indicates her desire to lose her feminine qualities and gain masculine ones. Gender role is also shown in how Lady Macbeth often rules her husband and controls his actions.
I think the control within the play comes from a mixture of both the witches and the characters and their own actions. So far, what the witches have said has come true because Macbeth has become thane of Cawdor, and his predicted title of King is looking like it's in grasp. At the same time, Macbeth seems to debate whether he wants to truly kill Duncan or not, which would be controlled by his own actions.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare draws a fine line between the characteristics of masculinity and femininity to convey his ongoing idea of contrast. This is significant because it gives the characters more undistinguished traits. Macbeth is a man and should be strong, brave, and harsh, yet he is meek and mild with "the milk of human kindness". This creates a contrast within his character. Shakespeare does the same thing for last Macbeth by making her wrathful and uncaring. She asks the spirits to "unsex" her and give her evil blood, again creating a contrast in character.
- I believe the characters are in control of their own actions. Especially with Macbeth. Macbeth is told of a prophecy by witches that he was to become the king by fate. Macbeth was unsure as to whether or not the prophecy was true and had many questions to ask. There is a point in the story when Duncan, the king, passed on his role to his son Malcolm. Macbeth was told to host the victory feast and was not sure whether he should do an evil deed to get Malcom out of the way so he could be king. Macbeth wasn't sure if the role of king would be passed on to him or if he had to murder someone, but the ending result is in his control with the decisions he makes.
ReplyDelete- I believe he uses masculinity do paint certain picture of some of his characters. For example, he puts beards on the witches to resemble their grossness and to show that they are capable of sure evil. I also believe that masculinity is used in Macbeths wife. Macbeths wife is a woman with truly evil intentions and believes that her feminine body prevents her from being the ruthless person she wants to be. She views Macbeth as being too soft and believes that he needs to be evil like her.
1. In the play, the characters have their own control of their actions. Even though the witches have the power to speak prophecy, their only power could be the power of suggestion. The characters in Macbeth have their own say in what they do and how they do it. For example, the narrator suggested that Macbeth will be king therefore now his ambition is leading him towards that goal, not fate. There are reasons for our actions which are all up to the person playing that action. In the scene 4, Macbeth knows that he is going to become king and he has a further goal to live up. Macbeth knowing in his head that he is going to gain great power influences his measures yet he is still in control.
ReplyDelete2. In scene 5 when Lady Macbeth gives her speech, she says “unsex me” meaning that she knows she has great power and wants to use her power in a masculine way rather than being stuck in a woman’s body. Macbeth is the one who should be masculine though Lady Macbeth wishes to give him what she has. In her speech, she basically tells her husband that he is not cruel and nasty enough to be the leader and her, even though she is a woman, has what it takes. This contrast between masculinity and femininity tells the audience something about Shakespeare himself and his inner conflict between his masculine and feminine drives.
In mcbeth the witches are controlling the other characters fate. They still control their actions but the witches control the outcome of their actions. Shakespeare's distinction of masculinity and femininity is showing the rules of men and women in the play. Typicality men played women roles and the discrepancy of the characters using masculinity and femininity shows a clear distinction of what role the characters play in the play.
ReplyDeleteLady Macbeth is in control. The witches are not. Macbeth could break away from the witches and make their predictions irrelevant, but he tries to make what they say happen. Everything is not predetermined by fate. They just think it is.
ReplyDeleteThe distinctions between masculinity and femininity is lear in the play. He wants to show that although it may seem like the men are in control, they really are not. They are easily controlled by women. Men are physically superior to women, but they do not use it. Women control men.
Lady Macbeth is in control. The witches are not. Macbeth could break away from the witches and make their predictions irrelevant, but he tries to make what they say happen. Everything is not predetermined by fate. They just think it is.
ReplyDeleteThe distinctions between masculinity and femininity is lear in the play. He wants to show that although it may seem like the men are in control, they really are not. They are easily controlled by women. Men are physically superior to women, but they do not use it. Women control men.
--- The witches are in control of the characters because they are constantly influencing Macbeth's actions. For example if they never told him that he was suppose to be Crowned kinged after he got the title Thane of Cawdor. Then when he was officially the Thane of Cawdor, he found out that Duncan was going to be crowned king and he then saw this was getting in his way of becoming the king so when he told lady macbeth they said that the witches predicted their fate so they would make it happen because it was meant to happen. If the witches never would of said anything Macbeth would be perfectly content with being Thane of Cawdor.
ReplyDelete--- Shakespeare makes distinctions between masculinity and femininity in the play by treating the women like they should be weak and not be able to do such vicious things. Even in the speech she asks that she can put her femininity aside to do the deeds her husband should be able to do. In this play Macbeth kind of has more femininity than his wife. She has to take the masculinity and do the deeds needed to make sure Macbeth is crowned king. She said he is too kind which females should be the too kind and the man should be able to be cruel. In this play men should have courage, be able to be murders, and seem to just be evil. She uses this against him to get what she wants because she says he is less than a man.
1. In the play Macbeth every character is in control of their own actions, Even though the witches have the power to speak prophecy, their only power could be the power of suggestion. For example the narrator suggested that Macbeth will be king therefore now his determination is leading him towards that goal the witches are not making him kill people to become king.
ReplyDelete2. The distinction between masculinity and femininity is drawn because it wants to be shown that masculinity trumps femininity. They show this in the play by Lady Macbeth She is displayed with masculine characteristics and is questioning Macbeth masculinity she's always calling Macbeth a coward she believe she has the power to be a leader and Macbeth doesn't.
1. So far in Macbeth, fate seems to be the driving force behind the outcomes of scenes and the exposition of characters. In the third scene, the witches tell Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and, eventually, the King of Scotland. While Banquo is asking Macbeth why he questions this, and Macbeth is still wrapping his head around the idea, Ross and Angus waltz in overjoyed to bestow upon Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor on behalf of the King. Shakespeare gives a very omnipresent, preplanned feel to viewers, thus giving the idea of fate to the viewers. The Sergeant in scene two talks up Macbeth to an almost excessive amount that this gives the viewer of the play a preplanned, foreseen outcome almost immediately.
ReplyDelete2. Shakespeare will often pull the rug out from under the audience, especially the audience in his lifetime. During Shakespeare's time women were universally treated as less than males of the time. Shakespeare plays into this at first by painting women as less, but then introduces Lady Macbeth as anything but the stereotype; she is cunning, maniacal, vicious and deceiving. She also constantly questions Macbeth's masculinity the whole time they're together in the first act. This gives the reader a flip flopped idea of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, giving him the weaker feminine qualities and her the stronger, more worthy qualities only thought to be possessed by the male population at the time. This contrast shows that women and men do not always act how they are supposed to, and that humans collectively can crack under pressure or even back away from challenges entirely, regardless of the stereotypes put on them and vise versa for the opposite gender.