Shakespeare Macbeth (1606), tells the catastrophic story of Macbeth’s bloody rise to power and then tragic downfall. (Harcour, 2016) Shakespeare, conveys a theme that integrity can be overpowered and destroyed by ambition. The theme is demonstrated throughout the play by the clever use of literary devices and language features. Shakespeare focuses on how Macbeth’s integrity is damaged and diminished due to his ambitions. At the first stage, a Captain describes Macbeth as a loyal subject dedicated to serve King Duncan. As time passes when the three witches prophesy his fate, this causes the shifting his perception of integrity. Ultimately, Macbeth loses his integrity and meets his downfall due to his lust for power.
Shakespeare introduces the audience to the concept of integrity by comparing Macbeth, a man rich in integrity, to Macdonwald, a man with poor integrity. The Captain’s monologue precisely states conditions of the battle and further goes into describing Macdonwald’s character to King Duncan. Shakespeare labels Macdonwald as a man of no integrity by using a metaphor, “Multiplying -villainies of nature - Do swarm upon him”, (1.2. 11-12). This literary device emphasizes the idea that all the evils found in nature are attracted to Macdonwald like flies to meat. (Mabillard, 2009) This expresses the imagery of maggots multiplying and flies swarming, which evokes a feeling of repugnance in the audience, as if Macdonwald is a mass of corruption. Shakespeare utilises this