ipl-logo

Examples Of Figurative Language In Macbeth

1262 Words6 Pages

Macbeth is a narrative of conflict. When it comes to killing everyone who stands in his way of becoming king, Macbeth is driven. When the first of the three witches' assumptions that he will succeed as Thane of Cawdor comes true, he places his faith in their words and prophecies. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's wife, encourages him when he feels he has gone too far and plots for success, which is crucial to Macbeth's desire. The Macbeth themes that are used throughout the story in figurative language are ambition, guilt and revenge. The story Macbeth is about misdirection and disloyalty. The three Weird witches, Macbeth, and his wife are all connected by a shared desire to state things plainly. Instead, they try to avoid the truth by using assumptions, …show more content…

Macbeth revenged anyone who he believed would ruin his kingship in any way. The symbol of blood reveals the theme of revenge. As Macbeth looks for the truth, the idea of becoming king soon captures his attention. What the witches in Macbeth produce is an idea, and in the mind of a person with little self-control like Macbeth, it allows the invasion of greedy thoughts. Disloyal thoughts fill Macbeth's head after he understands that the only way to succeed King Duncan is by killing him. It doesn't take long for the murder of King Duncan to occur after the truth and Macbeth's promotion to Thane of Cawdor, and the entire kingdom is on the run in search of peace. Malcolm, the son and heir likely of King Duncan, and Macduff, the Thane of Fife, are both powerful individuals. Malcolm and Macduff suffer the loss of loved ones as a result of Macbeth's ambition while he is leading himself to greatness. This leads Macduff to want revenge on Macbeth. “For none of woman born shall harm Macbeth” States Macbeth. Because Macduff was born by a C- section, Macbeth claims he can't harm him. He hath not touched you yet. I am young, but something .You may deserve of him through me, and wisdom. To offer up a weak, poor, innocent lamb. T' appease an angry god. In this metaphor, Malcolm compares himself to a sacrificial lamb and Macbeth to an angry god who would be pleased with his death. Macbeth claims ¨We have scorched the snake, not killed it¨ meaning that they still have threats to face, even with Duncan out of the picture. The two men meet face-to-face on the battlefield and Macduff kills Macbeth. Macduff has got his revenge from him killing his

Show More
Related
691 Words | 3 Pages

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a testimony to the difference between greed and ambition, good and evil, and right and wrong. The story shows that when one becomes obsessed with power, they will often resort to methods of manipulation and retaliation to achieve their desired outcome. In the case of Macbeth, he is approached by the Three Witches who inform him that he will one day become Thane of Cawdor and the King of Scotland. Additionally, they inform Macbeth’s comrade Banquo that his sons will one day be kings.

Read More
862 Words | 4 Pages

At the beginning of the play, he is hailed as the brave warrior who fought with his friend Banquo and, due to his act of bravery, was given the title “thane of Cawdor!” (1.2.65-67). However, it does not take him long to show his most noticeable character trait, ambition, which leads him to murder King Duncan. His insatiable desire for power and a fierce determination to be king drives Macbeth to continue to deceptively plot against his friend and commit terrible acts of violence and betrayal. It causes him to spiral out of control quickly, and he goes from a reluctant murderer to a sinister and brutal killer.

Read More
810 Words | 4 Pages

He hallucinates Banquo in the chair he was going to sit on. Macbeth starts to act crazy and Lady Macbeth tries to tell the other men in the room how he is acting is normal. After the dinner Macbeth hears that Macduff went to England to reunite with Malcolm, Duncan 's son, to try for him to own the throne. Macbeth decides to take action and send some men to murder Macduff 's family. When Macduff comes back he finds out of his family 's death and joins Malcolm and his army to defeat Macbeth.

Read More
829 Words | 4 Pages

Nevertheless, to become king, Macbeth realizes that in order to attain the throne, he would have to murder King Duncan. This soliloquy further foreshadows Macbeth’s over-ambition and how his character develops into one more corrupt throughout the play. Moreover, Macbeth’s selfishness highlights him as a relatively evil character. The murders of King Duncan and Banquo have already transpired, yet Macbeth still believes that his position as king is being threatened by others. Macbeth states, “Blood will have blood.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

When he decides to stop his grieving and take action on Macbeth, he is eager to come face to face with Macbeth and kill him just as he did to Macduff's Family. Macduff is already suspicious of Macbeth after the death of Duncan and dislikes Macbeth since that moment, but he grows more disgust for Macbeth, so much that he wants Macbeth dead. Malcolm also grows hatred for Macbeth, when he learns that Macbeth is the one that murdered his father. After they hear about the death of their father, Malcolm and Donalbain, sons of King Duncan, flee to different locations in fear that the person that had killed their father might come for them also. When he learns that Macbeth is the one that murders his father, Malcolm wants to seek revenge; he partners with Macduff to kill Macbeth.

Read More
645 Words | 3 Pages

Macduff is suspicious of the immediate killing of the accused guards who supposedly murdered King Duncan, but Macbeth explains that his fury at Duncan's death was so powerful that he could not restrain himself. Macduff strongly suspects Macbeth of regicide, and he eventually kills Macbeth in the final

Read More
402 Words | 2 Pages

However, since Macbeth is king of all the land opposing him would be treason. Yet Malcolm continues with his plan and forms an army that goes to attack Macbeth. Macduff ends up killing Macbeth himself. Moreover, Malcolm takes the throne for himself. Power and authority shifts once again.

Read More
651 Words | 3 Pages

Shakespeare’s Macbeth, expresses the universal truth that one’s life is not determined by fate, but rather the choices that one makes; furthermore, how choosing poorly can lead to overwhelming feelings of guilt. The most prominent and underlying theme of Macbeth, is the concept of fate vs. free will, most clearly seen through the rising in power and eventual downfall of Macbeth himself. Early in the play, the Three Witches prophesied that Macbeth will become king of Scotland; however, the prophecy ends there. Macbeth exercises his free will and makes the decision to kill King Duncan and ensure his appointment to king.

Read More
715 Words | 3 Pages

But I guess jokes on Macbeth, Macduff wasn’t even there and in turn this act just fills Macduff with rage and even more resolve to kill Macbeth, the one who killed the people he loved, Macduff then remarks to … that “O, I could play the woman with mine eyes and braggart with my tongue! But, gentle heavens, cut short all intermissions! Front to front Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself. Within my sword’s length set him. If he scape, heaven forgive him to.”

Read More
919 Words | 4 Pages

While Macbeth is contemplating whether or not to kill Duncan, he thinks about the consequence that will come afterward by stating: “his [Duncan’s] virtues / Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against / The deep damnation of his taking-off” (1.7.18-20). This simile compares the the begging of his goodness to the angels’ compelling speech against all the wrongs that have been done to him. Even though Macbeth eventually is going to kill Duncan, he admits that Duncan is a virtuous king. In his head, he is rationalizing Duncan’s death by stating that Duncan’s good deeds will compensate bloody way of dying. Because Macbeth is still sane, he realizes that killing is not justifiable.

Read More
1113 Words | 5 Pages

Macbeth is a tyrant during his rule, manipulating the minds of the people and using murders to clear out anyone that stood in his way, so that he can stay in power. Malcolm worries about the state of Scotland as he exclaims, “I think our country sinks beneath the yoke./ It weeps, it bleeds, and each new day a gash/ Is added to her wounds. I think withal…” (Shakespeare 4.3.49-51). Malcolm notices the true state of Scotland under the rule of Macbeth, as he has forcefully gained his

Read More
473 Words | 2 Pages

This causes Macbeth to contemplate whether to murder his beloveded king or let Malcolm become king. At one point we see Macbeth decide not to kill Duncan stating that if

Read More
1064 Words | 5 Pages

Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, analyzes the tragic downfall of a man who pursued his prophecy given to him by three witches, and suffered the downfall because of it. Told his power was inevitable, Macbeth explores the idea of murdering the King to achieve his goal of becoming King himself. Macbeth continually faces this, contemplating the moral issue of committing murder to in turn, fulfill his powerful destiny. While facing this internal conflict, Lady Macbeth developes an influence over Macbeth as well. Driven by her own desire to be Queen, Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to commit the murder, by challenging his manhood and often reminding him that it is, in fact, his destiny.

Read More
780 Words | 4 Pages

Lady Macbeth is power hungry for the throne and she will do anything to achieve her goal. Her pleasure of having the thought of killing Duncan is revealed. These murderous thoughts that run through her mind shows how desperate she is to acquire power. Although it is the beginning of the play, her dark ambitions sets a dark tone for her character in the play. This coincidentally adds to the assurance of Macbeth’s prophecy which is that Macbeth will become king, but King Duncan is still alive.

Read More
569 Words | 3 Pages

Macduff and Malcolm go to war against Macbeth eager for revenge. Macduff, vengeful for his family’s death cuts off Macbeths head, and Malcom takes his rightful place as king. Macbeth’s Ambition and Greed resulted in his downfall. Constantly wanting more, Macbeth allowed his blind ambition to dictate what actions he took to obtain being king and staying king.

Read More

More about Examples Of Figurative Language In Macbeth

Related Topics

Open Document