Mary Oliver's Use Of Figurative Language In Macbeth

“Figurative language can give shape to the difficult and painful. It can make visible and ‘felt’ that which is invisible and ‘unfeelable’” —Mary Oliver. In literature, understanding the written work evokes emotions through the way the author writes. The author tries to get the reader to think and feel deeply about stories, poems, or texts. With the use of figurative language, writers can help the audience visualize and understand what is happening. In old tragedies, the use of different language develops a theme and draws the reader in as if they are in the play. In the tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses imagery, personification, and alliteration in the soliloquies to convey the themes of dangers of ambition and appearances vs reality.

When trying to encourage himself, Macbeth explains, “I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/ and falls on th’ other” (Shakespeare 1:7:25-28). Macbeth is explaining he has nothing left but his desire to take control of him. The use of personification—giving ambition human-like traits— gives the audience an idea that his impulse is strong enough to seize control of him. The use of personification goes on to add to the theme of the consequences of ambition. Macbeth starts hallucinating as a conflict of his ambition, as seen when the text states, “Is this a dagger I see before me,/The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee” (Shakespeare 2:1:32-34). Macbeth’s desire causes him to hallucinate a dagger in front of him, tempting him to kill Duncan. The use of imagery creates a picture of the dagger in the reader's mind, making the reader feel fear of what determination will lead to next. The use of alliteration in Macbeth's soliloquies helps amplify the theme of appearance vs.