Language Techniques Used In Macbeth

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Macbeth by William Shakespeare is a play about an honest and brave Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that he will be made Thane of Cawdor and one day King of Scotland. As the first prophecy comes true, Macbeth becomes consumed by ambition and greed leading him to murder King Duncan and taking over the throne. Afterwards he is filled with regretted and guilt yet continues on killing as a means to protect himself, losing sight of the honourable man he once was. Throughout the play Shakespeare uses many stylistic features and language techniques such as imagery, paradoxes and soliloquies to engage his readers, both those of his time and today, as well as highlighting important issues.

A predominantly used language technique in Macbeth is imagery, especially of animals, blood and …show more content…

The use of imagery of animals such as A falcon, tow’ring in her pride of place, Was by a mousing owl hawked at and killed. helps the reader get a better understanding of the disruption to order and power that has occurred due to King Duncan’s murder. Shakespeare uses this analogy to show that Macbeth is lower in the food chain like the owl meaning he is weaker, yet he manages to kill the king who holds the most power like the falcon. Through this, the audience can see the chaos this creates as the events that have occurred have gone against nature. Imagery of blood is used abundantly in the play as it is frequently repeated to reinforce the guilt Macbeth and Lady Macbeth feel after the murder like What hands are here! Ha! They pluck out mine eyes. Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather, The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the

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