Macbeth Rhetorical Analysis Essay

This excerpt from Act 1, scene 7 of William Shakespeare’s tragic playwright Macbeth, the protagonist, Macbeth, ponders whether to murder King Duncan in order to claim the throne. Succeeding a coercive argument his wife, Macbeth anxiously contemplates his inevitable decision weighs out his various options. Shakespeare exercises similes, heavenly imagery, and allegorical diction to cleverly elucidate Macbeth’s struggle with uncertainty and confrontation with his flaws. From the first few lines of the excerpt, Macbeth applauds Duncan and declares that he is a satisfactory King and is “so clear in his great office” (3). Quickly, Shakespeare sets a tone of fondness with the constant praise, antithetical to the violent scheme plotted in the previous

segment. However, as the soliloquy proceeds, Macbeth’s heavenly thoughts become tainted. Macbeth questions the possibilities of his rule by killing Duncan. Shakespeare then utilizes the adjective “meek”(2) to describe Duncan to insinuate that while Macbeth admits Duncan has done a reasonable job, he is hesitant to back down.

Shakespeare’s use of passive connotative diction to delineate Duncan subtly hints that even as he accommodates Duncan work, Macbeth forces himself to use a mild attribute as to persuade himself against leaving Duncan alone. Contradicting logic, his ambition and emotions affect his judgment, leaving him utterly unable to decide. This subtle word choice illuminates Macbeth’s distress and indecision even throughout a sea of compliments. Shakespeare advances further introducing the first of recurring angelic imagery integrated as a simile. The imagery vividly illustrates the extent of the negative outcomes such as the “deep damnation” that will befall Macbeth latter to Duncan’s “taking off”(5). The simile “virtues will plead like angels” (3-4) correlates that Duncan's virtues are divine, like an angel. It underlyingly denotes that the kingdom’s subjects or “virtues” will “plead” meaning to grieve over the death. Macbeth asserts that Duncan's reign of ideals will boom throughout the land like a trumpet and will reject the rise of Macbeth, even after his death. This foreshadows that if the scheme were to occur, there will be punishments

. Macbeth utilizes another godlike imagery deeper into the excerpt, symbolizing that “heaven’s cherubim”(8) will carry the pity and “blow”(9) the actuality and tears into everyone's eyes. Throughout the kingdom, Macbeth’s “horrid deeds” would transpire upon himself as the change will be apparent to all. The continuous allegorical diction is used subsequently to illustrate a change of Macbeth’s mindset as Shakespeare uses the phrase “o'erleaps” and “falls on the other.” The context of the phrases explain that Macbeth’s ambition is the only thing fueling this operation. However, Shakespeare also intended to exhibit a second meaning in Macbeth’s thoughts too, like his ambition, are “o’erleap[ing]” and are “fall[ing] on the other[s].” These constant wavering notions counter each other and leave Macbeth in a state of confusion,