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Examples Of Verbal Irony In Macbeth

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In Macbeth, one of Shakespeare’s most well known plays, irony is portrayed in three forms. Verbal irony, being the difference in what is said and what is meant; dramatic irony, when the audience perceives something that the other characters do not and situational irony, a difference between what happened and what was expected to happen. Each type of irony supports a theme in the story which purpose is to add suspense and grab the reader’s attention. An epitome of verbal irony is portrayed on the Act I when Lady Macbeth welcomes king Duncan into their castle and wishes him a comfortable stay; however, she does not mean as she is planning to kill him along with her husband. After his arrival at Macbeth’s castle Duncan speaks of the pleasant …show more content…

When in England, Macduff finds out that his family was killed by murderers sent by Macbeth. Revenge and anger takes over him and he goes back to Scotland with the decision of killing Macbeth. Macbeth, tired of fighting and killing during the invasion of his castle, is contemplating suicide when Macduff enters. He tells Macduff to leave and that he is done causing bloodshed, but Macduff insists on fighting. Macbeth states that he has a charmed life from the predictions of the witches, that no one born of a woman can kill him; Macduff tells him that he was ripped from his mother’s womb, not being necessarily born of a woman. “Despair thy charm, and let the angel whom thou still hast served tell thee Macduff was from his mother’s womb. Untimely ripped” (V, vii, 9-12). Macbeth due to the witches prophecies, has been made invincible. They have told him he cannot be killed by any person born of a woman. To an audience member, this announcement guarantees Macbeth’s invincibility. Everyone in history has been born from a woman’s womb. Situational irony and the theme of power come in play together. The audience is as certain as Macbeth of his victory in this duel. The audience’s certain comes from the predictions from the witches,while Macbeth believes that he is so powerful that nothing could hurt him. As shown before in act four, Macbeth thinks so highly

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