Macbeth Figurative Language Essay

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Figurative Language in Macbeth
Macbeth is a play written by the famous playwright William Shakespeare in the year 1606. The play is about two soldiers whose lives are forever changed by the predictions heard from three witches. The main character Macbeth uses these predictions as a reason to allow him to murder the king and take the throne. Macbeth and his wife are overcome by greed and ambition and will do anything to keep their throne, even if it involves killing close friends and their families. The play ends when a soldier named Macduff returns to avenge the death of his family by slaying Macbeth. In the play, Shakespeare employs many different uses of figurative language and literary devices to show similarities and differences in scenery, …show more content…

For example “Doubtful it stood; As two spent swimmers, that do cling together And choke their art.” (I, ii,10-11) Shakespeare uses this simile to show how the rebellion in the beginning of the play was doomed from the start and that the rebel leader, Macdonwald, fought to the death even though his rebellion was doomed. Another use of a simile by Shakespeare is “But like a man he died,” (V, viii, 43) This simile shows that Macbeth is a mortal human being, even though he sees himself as a king who will rule for a long time. He also believes that he can not be killed by a normal man. Shakespeare uses yet another simile to show how a sargent fought like a good soldier and how he is a good soldier by continuing to fight even though he is wounded. The simile is “Like a good and hardy soldier fought ‘gainst my captivity.” (I, ii, 3-5) With the use of these similes Shakespeare enhances his expressive style and shows vivid comparisons between many …show more content…

One example of alliteration is “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” (I,i, 12) Shakespeare uses alliteration here to show the importance of this line and to also add some expression. Another use of alliteration is “Double, double toil and trouble…” (IV, i, 10) This example of alliteration is used to add expression and character to the line. This line is also a witches spell being brewed therefore it is written to sound like a “traditional” witches spell. Again, Shakespeare uses alliteration when Macbeth says “But now i am cabin’d, cribbed, confin’d, bound in to saucy doubts and fears.” (III, iv, 25-26) This example of alliteration is used to show a change in Macbeth’s feelings. In the lines leading up to this example Macbeth is excited due to his own feelings of invincibility, but then he learns that Fleance has escaped and that he will become a problem in the

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