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Imagery In Macbeth

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Shakespeare uses many structural and language techniques throughout his play Macbeth to enhance his messages of power, love, ambition and disloyalty. To intensify these messages he incorporates the use of imagery, specifically through the use animals, blood and clothes, as well as dramatic irony, which is shown especially through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Shakespeare’s use of the weather is also another crucial technique used to convey the messages.

The imagery used in Macbeth helps to illustrate the underlying messages surrounding the characters. The use of blood, especially surrounding Lady Macbeth and Macbeth helps to explain to the audience some of the emotions both of these characters are feeling. An example of this is in act 5, scene …show more content…

During Act 1, scene 2 when the soldier says ‘As sparrows, eagles, or the hare, the lion’, he is speaking about Macbeth and Banquo. This use of imagery illustrates that just like an eagle can easily defeat a sparrow, or a lion could easily defeat a hare, Macbeth and Banquo can easily defeat their opponents. Eagles and lions are known for being strong, fierce, scary animals, unlike sparrows and hares, which are known for being weak and small. This comparison of Macbeth and Banquo shows how much stronger they are compared to their …show more content…

Before each scene is a brief explanation of the weather, however this can only be seen with words such as ‘thunder’ or ‘lightning’; there is never a description of ‘sunny’ or clear skies’. This emphasis Shakespeare adds to these scenes tells the audience that something unusual is about to take place. This can be seen particularly when the witches are about to enter the scene or act. Throughout the play the witches are portrayed as old woman with supernatural powers and evil characteristics that are seen to know Macbeth’s future. In scene one the first witch says ‘When shall we meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?’, the use of this stormy weather surrounding the witches tells the audience that the next time these three witches meet, something evil and unnatural will most likely take place. Similar to this line from the first witch, the three witches always incorporate the gloomy weather into their conversations and this helps the audience in understanding their

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