In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," gender roles are explored through the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. A key quote that reflects this theme is:
"Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here."
In this line, Lady Macbeth expresses her desire to shed her feminine qualities to pursue power, challenging traditional gender roles of her time. This illustrates the conflict between ambition and societal expectations regarding gender.