Said Lady Macbeth, “Nought’s had, all’s spent. In Act III, Scene ii, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were discussing their feelings about being king and queen of Scotland after the murder. Of course, since the witches’ prophecies were cleverly designed to manipulate his weak mind, Macbeth murdered Duncan to satisfy his ambition. He would be rich, everyone would respect him, he’d have all the power in Scotland, and he thought that that would make him happy. Macbeth probably thought that being the king would be great. In Act I, Scene iii, the witches told Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter.” This prophecy was ironic because even though it was true, it did not turn out how Macbeth expected it to. The prophecies to Macbeth were all ironic paradoxes.
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth there was a lot of irony, and Shakespeare intended the irony of the play to build and maintain suspense, while creating a vague sense of fear.įor example, the irony in the play started out early, with the witches’ prophecies to Macbeth and Banquo. They are in blue, symbolizing water and medicine to cure the illness.D David Schlachter Irony in Macbeth Written as coursework for Grade 9 English course. They are small as they are not in the position of power but with great soul. Malcom and his army is shown as small people but with a large bottle of medicine, where other soldiers come out from. Macbeth along with the country is in serious illness and is shown as a giant with a fever, the color red symbolizing illness and foreshadowing blood and the death of Macbeth.
Sleep, blood, death and illness give the feeling of Macbeth falling from his king state to his death.įear gives the feeling of Macbteh wanting to change the situation but is powerless against fate and the cause of his deed. Macbeth is symbolized as a “wild animal”.Ĭhange in Key images: The image of “honor” is evolving as Malcom becomes king, replacing Macbeth and ending the play.
The image of “ghost” reappears, which is a flashback of Macbeth’s guilt. The image of “armor” evokes after, but it “does not suit” him well, symbolizing hoe fate does not support him to win the battle.Ĭhange in Key images: “Fear” dissolves in this scene but the image of “woman (born)” evokes, along with the image of “supernatural” things (the wood moving).Ĭhange in Key images: The images of “blood” and “death” evoke, foreshadowing Macbeth’s death.Ĭhange in Key images: As Macbeth is killed in this scene, the image of “woman (born)” dissolves as Macbeth finds out, according to the witches’ prophecy, who is to kill him. Illness and medicine also evokes as Macbeth wants to kill “fear” with “antidote”. The image of “colors”, including “black, “white” and “red”, the image of “woman (born)”, the “witches” evoke. Striking/ Symbolic images: Fear, Color, Withes’ prophecy, Woman.Ĭhange in Key images: The image of “fear” continues. Striking/ Symbolic images: Illness and medicine.Ĭhange in Key images: The image of “illness” and “medicine” evolves in this scene as Malcom and the army approaches. After this image, Macbeth’s “fear” evolve. Striking/ Symbolic images: Sleep, Blood, Fear.Ĭhange in Key images: Lady Macbeth’s “sleep” walking dissolves and ends with “blood”.