Alliteration In Macbeth

ANALYSIS/ IMPLICATIONS: Alliteration reinforces the contrast that emphasises Macbeth’s deviant choice. Duncan’s purity is accentuated through a religious simile: these angels are ‘trumpet-tongued’, the alliteration reflecting the strength of Duncan’s

A deadly combination of ambition and guilt poisons both Macbeth and his wife and leads to their deaths in the end. Ruined by her desire for power, Lady Macbeth’s descent into madness is more vivid and guilt seems to affect her more than her husband, even though he is responsible for more crimes. Her request to the spirits to “unsex [her] here,/ And fill [her], from the crown to the toe, top-full/ Of direst cruelty!” is contrasted as the more guilty she feels, the more weak and sensitive she become, a polar opposite of her usual masculine and bold self (1.5.44-46). As a result, she is unable to cope with the guilt and meets her ultimate demise by taking her life. This has an immediate effect on Macbeth: the almost always apparent tension of ambition and guilt disappears. He does not seem interested in living and is ready to face death in a manner more relatable to his former self rather than the murderer he has become. Moreover, Macbeth’s final remark is “Arm, arm, and out!”,

Lady Macbeth’s strength of will persists through the murder of King Duncan as it is she who tries to calm Macbeth after committing the crime by declaring confidently that, “a little water clears us of this deed,” (2.2.67). Afterward, however, Lady Macbeth’s strong and ambitious character begins to deteriorate into madness. Her first sign of weakness occurred when she confessed that she could not have killed the king, revealing a natural woman’s feelings, “had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t” (2.2.13-14). Just as ambition has affected her before more so then Macbeth before the crime, the guilt plagues her now more effectively afterward as she desperately tried to wash away the invisible blood from her sin, “Here’s the smell of the blood still: all the perfume of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand,” (5.1.48-49). Lady Macbeth’s

Lady Macbeth had a very powerful hold over Macbeth. Just by questioning his valor she could shift Macbeth’s whole thought process and second-guessing of the murder of Duncan (Booth, 24), and he allows it because he cannot bear to disappoint her. His love for her and need for her approval is what ultimately leads him to commit each and every one of his crimes. She is the center of his world and if she does not see a problem in the murders than why should he. This is naïve ignorance caused by a blindness that is induced by love, and that is both heart breaking and tragic.

Many believe lines 17-28 to be Macbeth’s most famous speech. What metaphors does he use to describe what he feels to be the

Lady Macbeth is a complex and intriguing character in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. She is a difficult character to embody as her personality seems split between two sides, one that is pure evil, sly and conniving in contrast to her softer, vulnerable, weak and feminine side. In the play we see her in these two main ways. The reader may feel a certain animosity towards Lady Macbeth throughout the first few acts as her personality appears more and more distasteful, in spite of this towards the end she has a serious breakdown over the guilt that torments her, even in her sleep, regarding her hand in Duncan’s untimely death.

Lady Macbeth's diction in Act I, scene 5 sets the tone for the events, most importantly the murder of Duncan, in the play. Her attitude teaches the audience about who she is, as well as, her relationship with Macbeth. One example of her use of diction is, when Macbeth enters his castle and Lady Macbeth greets him is the same way the witches did. Especially when she says "all-hail" and "hereafter" which are the same phrases that were said to Macbeth by the witches (1.5.46). This is intended to spook the audience, mainly because they have witnessed Macbeth meeting the witches and are now witnessing Lady Macbeth say the same things that the witches said. In addition, Lady Macbeth uses even more verbal clues to highlight important key factors

Throughout the play “Macbeth” Shakespeare uses multiple examples of strong diction, paradox, metaphors, and imagery to demonstrate the theme that fate is inevitable. These examples also help emphasize that the witches are in control of Macbeth's severe and hostile actions throughout the tragic play. Without the witches prophecies the idea of murder would have never crossed Macbeth’s mind. After the witches informed Macbeth that he would soon become king he was willed to do anything to make sure this bizarre prophecy would come true.

In his soliloquy with the dagger, Macbeth mentions that “Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse / The curtained sleep” (2.1). While the death of nature does not mean much to him, it becomes apparent that this death is a symbol for the dying Duncan. Without Duncan, the country is in chaos, littered with unnatural occurences. In using the word “seems,” Macbeth asserts the fact in a cautious and guarded manner, emphasizing the idea that he does not want to bring attention to horrific murder he will commit in order to gain power.

Over the course of the tragedy of Macbeth, Shakespeare uses various literary devices to bring to attention the importance of his diction, as well as relate the speech to the common theme of death and life’s worthlessness. Beyond the figurative language mentioned above, there are elements that are significant on their own, specifically foreshadowing, metaphors, repetition and alliteration. Shakespeare hints at an important upcoming event using Macbeth’s boastful attitude when he describes the walls surrounding his main character. This element of foreshadowing allows for the reader to predict that something tragic and significant will soon take place. As the speech progresses, the author continues to emphasize Macbeth’s idea that life is brief

The most interesting aspect of Macbeth’s character is that it is flawed. The audience can identify with his human frailties. Despite the fact that Macbeth commits evil and is drawn to the successes he thinks evil can provide him, one can tell he has goodness in him. Shakespeare reveals Macbeth’s moral development through the use of symbolism in the soliloquys which portray

When he hears the Doctor’s medical opinion of his wife, Macbeth sarcastically asks the doctor; “What purgative drug / Would scour these English hence? Hear'st thou of them?” (5, 3, 55-56). Also when he learns that his wife has committed suicide, he does not grief for Lady Macbeth because he is unable to express his feelings. Before she dies, she cries out; “Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten / this little hand…” (5, 1, 48-49). His mind is engaged with the witches promise and therefore hopes that this will protect him.

It has become clear at this point, that Lady Macbeth cannot bear to live with herself, knowing of all the affliction and devastation that she and her husband had caused. She concedes her guilt, and then brings forth comeuppance upon herself via suicide. Although Lady Macbeth is willing to accept the disconsolate reality that enshrouds her life, Macbeth still persists on living a life of

Another idea expressed in this soliloquy is the opposition of light and darkness as symbols of life and death.  The tone is set right after Macbeth hears of his queen's death.  He now feels necessary to comment on life seeing his hopes turn to ashes.  When Macbeth says, "tomorrow creeps in this petty pace" brings a negative connotation to tomorrow.  Tomorrow keeps coming slowly until one day it will attack.  Macbeth, now, views life as a slow petty progression and tomorrow as unrelenting thus this increases its negative and dark connotations.  "Tomorrow creeps . . . to the last syllable of recorded time", with these remarks Macbeth presents his hopeless outlook on life.  His feels time will come until it succeeds in taking

The relationship of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is a complex one. Macbeth in the beginning does not come across to us as dominant. He more so looks to Lady Macbeth for comfort, assurance, and direction.”… Go get some water And wash your hand. Why did you bring these daggers