Macbeth Steaminess Rating

Exactly how steamy is this story?

PG-13

There are plenty of allusions to sex in Macbeth, but… it doesn't seem like anyone's actually doing it. Take a look:

  • The weird sisters cast a spell to "drain" a sailor "dry as hay" so he won't be able to have children with his wife (1.3.19).
  • Lady Macbeth insinuates that her husband is impotent in the bedroom when she goads him into killing King Duncan.
  • And even the Porter's dirty jokes lead to a discussion of male performance (or lack thereof) when he laments that drinking a lot of alcohol puts men in the mood for a little fun but also makes it hard for them to function.

So, it this a steamy play? Or, as Macbeth says about life, is it just a lot of "sound and fury, signifying nothing"?