Literary Devices Used In Macbeth

Personal power has the capability to be essential to greatness, and is also able to destroy a person nature. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, ambition takes a toll on destruction of power that goes unchecked. It is mostly displayed in the one of the main characters, Macbeth. Macbeth is a prime example throughout this play of the horrible effects that ambition can have on someone who lacks a strong character. However, some people feel that Macbeth is an evil person, but he is badly qualified for the consequences of time mentally. Throughout this play ambition is displayed as a dangerous quality and triggers a series of deaths.

In the thrilling tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses key devices in order to effectively establish and sustain a suspenseful atmosphere. Shakespeare tells the story of a brave Scottish general, Macbeth, who receives several prophecies from a trio of sinister witches. His positive mind set is soon overcome with ambitious thoughts, leading to a series of selfish murders. The overall mood throughout the play is predominately dark and ominous in which many tragic plays inhabit. The major theme running through the play is the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. Actions carried out without thought have the potential to present undesirable consequences and self-guilt. This argument is particularly concerning for Macbeth as his lust for power seizes control over his sanity, ultimately leading to his tragic flaw. Shakespeare clearly implements three vital devices to further

Irony, a key element to a tragic play like Macbeth, has the ability to make the tragic hero appear more villainous or the down-fall seem even more tragic.

Usually this occurs because Macbeth transitions from logical explanations (logos), to emotional ones (pathos). Shakespeare uses irony to explain how by killing King Duncan, they will be inadvertently putting their own lives at risk. When I read the line “returns to plague the inventor” I put a hand on my heart to symbolize my own mortality. In the metaphor of the poisoned chalice, I brought out the word “commends” because it is a strong verb choice that clearly articulates his point. Once again, Macbeth dives into a reassuring tone at “He’s here in double trust”, and is similar to the planning as in the beginning. This time it is an appeal to ethos, because he states his credibility as a kinsman, subject, and host, all reasons not to kill Duncan. A second realization happens when he says the phrases “so meek” and “so clear”, as he remembers that Duncan is a decent person, not someone he should hurt. He uses a simile when he says, “his virtues will plead like angels”, which I used as a cue to put emphasis and gradually get louder. This demonstrates an increase of anger, and pathos. Another rhetorical strategy used is hyperbole, where Shakespeare is using heightened, complex language to display Macbeth’s madness. He speaks of “heaven’s cherubim”, “trumpet tonged” angels, and “sightless couriers”, which were all slightly emphasized to indicate anger, frustration, and annoyance with the probable consequences.

Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, details the effects of excessive ambition coupled with paranoia through the tale of a heroic fighter, who forced his way to the position of king. As Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discovered, ambition, when fueled by greed for power, leads to negative consequences.

Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ is about the leading male protagonist succumbing to his ambition and need for power. Though Macbeth is liable for his own actions, he is not solely responsible for the events that eventually result in his downfall. Macbeth is corrupted by his wife, Lady Macbeth, as well as the three weird sisters. Macbeth’s contribution towards his downfall is his strong ambitious nature. Lady Macbeth is the person who induces Macbeth to assassinate King Duncan. The three weird sisters (witches) play with Macbeth’s ambitious nature and sense of security. Macbeth’s downfall is due to himself and two external factors.

Furthermore tragic irony is shown when Macbeth arrogantly says, ?Then Live Macduff what need I fear of thee?? ( , , 82) This is tragic irony because Macbeth acts very hubris. He thinks that he is invincible, but eventually he realizes that he should have been more careful because Banquo ironically ends up killing him. Further, it develops the theme of appearance versus reality because to Macbeth it seems that he does not need to be afraid of Macduff because the witches trick him into thinking that he is immortal when in reality he is not. As has been noted dramatic, thematic, and tragic irony aid in the development of characters and with it help expand the theme of appearance versus reality.

In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth undergoes many emotional and psychological changes. Shakespeare uses motifs and numbers to show Lady Macbeth is stoic and unrepentant in the beginning, but becomes desperate for death by the end because she is frantic and overcome with guilt.

In Act two scene one Macbeth has an encounter with a ghost in the form of a dagger and he begins to hallucinate about killing King Duncan. Once the hallucination is over Macbeth accepts his and King Duncan’s fate. Shakespeare uses diction and imagery to convey Macbeth’s remorseful and fearful state of mind in Macbeth’s Soliloquy Act two scene one. Shakespeare uses harsh words such as “dagger” and “oppressed” to express Macbeth’s remorseful state of mind.

Every one of Shakespeare 's plays are heavily imbedded with motifs. A motif is any element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature. (motif) I chose to examine the play Macbeth. It is a very intense play full of violence, betrayal, and even the supernatural. It is well known to be saturated with themes and motifs that are repeated throughout the play. These motifs are important because they often foreshadow events on the play. They also create a atmosphere that helps shape the events of the play. I am going to focus on two motifs that seem to play a heavy role in the storyline of Macbeth. The two I have chose to focus on are the motifs of blood and nature. Since Macbeth is know for its violence blood is a very important part of the play. Nature also is representative of things to come and upsetting the natural balance of things. These are only a fraction of motifs that are present in this tragic play.

Whilst the character of Macbeth is initially portrayed as a noble kinsman, his ambition and motivation, directly influenced by the witches and Lady Macbeth, ultimately transforms him into a corrupt and ruthless tyrant. William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy “Macbeth” clearly depicts this notion of change, illustrated through Shakespeare's utilisation of literary techniques. The tragic downfall of Macbeth is mainly attributed to Macbeth’s own greed and hubris.

Throughout history, writers have developed a plethora of literary devices.  This allows them to essentially spice up their writing, or make it more interesting to the reader.  One of the most commonly used and talked about literary devices is theme; theme is a specific idea or lesson that an author is trying to get across.  Just a few examples are, ambition, guilt, things may not always be what they seem, or even nature verses the unnatural.  In fact, these are common themes used by one of the greatest play writes of all time, Shakespeare.  All throughout arguably his most renowned play, Macbeth, we see Shakespeare use each of the four previously listed themes.

Not only can words persuade and manipulate, but body language, physical touch, and the eye movements and facial expressions play a huge factor in the art of convincing. One can not be persuaded if there is no personal gain. To have an influence, one has to meet the person halfway with potential benefit, empathy, and subconscious gestures. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is set in Scotland during the middle ages while its counterpart, Rupert Goold’s

Ray Comfort, a New Zealand evangelist, once said: “Rhetoric, which is the use of language to inform or persuade, is very important in shaping public opinion. We are very easily fooled by language and how it is used by others.” Rhetoric can be used to inform, persuade, and inspire. Writers will use rhetoric to shape their characters feelings and attitudes. The writers want the characters to differ, so they can represent the different factions of the human persona. This personality is created by the character’s usage of rhetorical devices, such as diction, dialect, or tone. A character’s attitude towards other characters is shaped by their rhetoric as well. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth and John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, two fantastical

Macbeth’s mental and moral deterioration throughout the play engages the audience illustrating how guilt overwhelms his conscience He believes he hears voices crying “Macbeth has murdered sleep” this demonstrates how he is battling against his morals and his ambition. His good qualities are battling his bad thoughts and this is the main reason for his mental downfall which makes for a deeply engaging plot. Macbeth goes from being a man of bravery, strength, honour yet he slowly loses these qualities. He once believed that killing a good man was an evil, un-worthy thing to do yet by the end of the play he is killing the people he once had close relationships with to get himself out of the mess that was dragging him deeper into despair and tragedy. This process is enthralling for the audience who cannot resist watching him go to any length to save himself as his morals go into deep decline. Ambition has completely taken over him in the soliloquy in which he states; “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleap itself and falls on the other.” In this instance Macbeth is interesting because he realises that the only thing that is making him want to kill Duncan is