Macbeth Personification Essay

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Recommended: Insanity in Macbeth during the beginning of the story

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth has a very strong ambition to be the king of Scotland. His credulousness leads him to believing the prophecy from the three witches without thinking rigorously. Because of this prophecy, Macbeth is willing to do everything he can to gain the throne, even to the extreme of murdering someone, which in turn causes his insanity. Shakespeare uses syntax, similes, and personification to convey the evolution of Macbeth’s insanity. Before Macbeth’s entanglement in bloody deeds, Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as rational. When he first encounters the three witches, he says, “Speak if you can. What are you?” (1.3.50). “Speak if you can” is an imperative sentence, giving a direct command to the witches. By giving a command, he wants to show that he is still in control and deserves respect. On the other hand “what are you?” is an …show more content…

His expression of curiosity in this situation shows that he is able to maintain his social interaction. As a result, Shakespeare uses this syntax to demonstrate Macbeth’s sane state of mind. An insane person is often unable to maintain composure in many ways including their language. In this case, Macbeth keeps his equanimity to the standard level. After Duncan announces that Malcolm will be heir to the throne, Macbeth says to himself: Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see. (1.4.57-60)
In this use of personification, “stars, hind your fires”, Macbeth gives the stars an instruction by commanding them to hide his evilness. If the stars shows their fires, his “black and deep desire” to claim Scotland will be revealed to everyone. Because he knows that what he is about to do is immoral and no one should be aware about it, Macbeth is mentally sound. In addition, “the eye wink at the hand” and “the eye fears” personifies

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