“Come, You Spirits” : The Intersection of the Succubus and the One-Sex Model in Macbeth

Abstract

This paper examines the recurring metaphors of sexual impotence and masturbation in Macbeth through two intellectual frameworks: the unique anatomical theories of the Renaissance and the witchcraft theories that James I adopted from the continent. The succubus-like imagery of the witches presented at the beginning of the play and the lines repeatedly suggesting Macbeth’s sexual impotence by the Macbeths highlight how the theme of “barren kingship” is expressed through metaphors of sexual desire. Particularly, the obsessions with masculinity and femininity can be interpreted, not merely as issues of gender roles, but as processes of reproductive dysfunction, in light of the contemporary concept of sexual fluidity within the one-sex model. Furthermore, Macbeth’s lines suggesting masturbatory desires symbolize the waste of bodily fluids/semen unrelated to reproduction, portraying Macbeth as a “deficient” individual incapable of producing heirs, both in terms of royal succession and family lineage.departmental bulletin pape