Important Literary Elements at Work in Macbeth

Important Literary Elements at Work in Macbeth

THEMES: The big four

1.      things are not what they seem,

2.      blind ambition,

3.      power corrupts,

4.      and superstition affects human behavior.

Explore the themes with questions. For example, "Though Shakespeare's Macbeth is about 11th century Scotland, its themes of ambition run wild and the corruption of power can be seen in modern history.

Can you think of examples?" List examples on the chalkboard and discuss.

Or, “One of the themes of Macbeth is 'things are not what they seem.' Can you relate an incident from your life when you thought something (or someone) was one way, but it (he/she) turned out to be another?"

CHARACTERS Shakespeare's audience was familiar with the history of Macbeth.

Macbeth Scottish general ambitious enough to commit regicide to become king

Lady Macbeth His wife; ambitious; later remorseful

Banquo General, murdered by hired killers

Fleance Banquo's son

Duncan King of Scotland

Malcolm Eldest son of Duncan, Prince of Cumberland

Donalbain Youngest son of Duncan

Macduff General, dedicated to the good of Scotland

Ross Cousin to Macduff

Lennox Nobleman, loyal to Duncan

Seyton Lieutenant to Macbeth

Siward English Earl, supporter of Malcolm

Young Siward Bravely faces Macbeth though he is killed in battle

Three Witches Predict Macbeth's ambitions will soon come true; later predict his downfall

LITERARY DEVICES Shakespeare used literary devices he knew his Renaissance audience would appreciate.

1.      Allusions—Shakespeare used both mythological and Biblical allusions.

For example, the sergeant compares a bloody scene of death on the battlefield to Golgotha which is the place of Christ's death in the New Testament (I,ii.). One of the mythological allusions is Macduff's comparing the dead Duncan to a Gorgon of Greek mythology which could turn a person to stone because of the terror evoked (II,iii).

2.      Figurative Language—Shakespeare's mastery of language is exemplified through his use of imagery such as similes, metaphors, personification, alliteration, and symbols.

Similes: (Flower imagery) Look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under it. (I,v) (Disguise) Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters. (I,v)

Metaphors: (Planting imagery) I have begun to plant thee, and will labor To make thee full of growing. (I,iv) A Teacher’s Guide to the Signet Classic Edition of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth 6 (Clothing imagery) Why do you dress me In borrowed robes? (I,iii)

Personification: If chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, Without my stir (I,iii) Was the hope drunk Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? (I,vii)

Alliteration: But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears. (III, iv)

Symbol: Before reading the play, related symbols to the plot, characters, and themes of Macbeth. For example, the presence of birds is one aspect of nature which symbolizes the theme of superstitions/omens. When Duncan and Banquo note that Macbeth's castle enjoys the good omen of nesting martlets, the audience already realizes the danger Duncan will be facing if he spends the night at Inverness (I,v). Therefore, the "fair" omen is to become "foul." Discuss how this symbol is employed by Shakespeare to advance the theme and plot of Macbeth. Others include water/washing ("A little water clears us of this deed," II,ii), blood ("Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? II,ii), weather ("Hover through the fog and filthy air," I,i) clothing ("borrowed robes" worn by the Thane of Cawdor, (I,iii), sleep ("Not so sick, my lord, as she is troubled with thick-coming fancies that keep her from her rest," V,iii).

3.      Foreshadowing*— The witches set the tone in Act I, scene 1 with a storm and predictions that Macbeth's life will become so confused he will find it difficult to differentiate between right and wrong (fair and foul), and their later predictions foreshadow a downfall the audience is aware of long before Macbeth is willing to accept their implications.. Consider these examples: (a) The play opens with thunder and lightning as three witches enter. What does this tell about the mood of the play? Is this play going to be a tragedy or a comedy? (b) What do the witches mean when they say, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (I,i)? What does this tell you about what is likely to go on during the play? (c) If you were going to stage this scene, what would your set look like?

4.      Dramatic Irony—Shakespeare's audience enjoyed being informed of events before the characters were aware of the implications. The example given above of Macbeth's lack of awareness of his new title, Thane of Cawdor, is a good illustration. Another is Duncan commenting on the pleasantness of Macbeth's castle while the audience knows the Macbeths have just planned his murder to take place there that very night (I,vi.). The most powerful examples of dramatic irony include Macbeth's acceptance of the apparitions' seeming assurances that no man "of woman born shall harm Macbeth" and that he is safe until Birnam Woods move. Macbeth continues to feel confident of his safety even though the audience, through dramatic irony, has seen the equivocations of the witches long before Macbeth realizes them.