You are here

All Site ContentMacbethAct 1Scene 7
Back to the Play
"mettle" and "males"
Wordplay
Act 1,
Scene 7
Lines 73b-75

An explanation of the wordplay on “mettle” and “males” in Act 1, Scene 7 of myShakespeare’s Macbeth.

Macbeth

                               Bring forth men-children only,
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males. Will it not be received,

Lady Macbeth’s wordplay can be read two ways:

  • Lady Macbeth’s courageous (undaunted) character (mettle) should only be passed along to males.
  • Lady Macbeth is as tough as the metal used in chain-mail armor.