... it lies". This line leads one to question what is it that lies in his way and could it perhaps be related to what his eye will fear. The metaphor Macbeth uses in the third and fourth line, "Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires" (1.4.57-58). Macbeth speaks in ambiguity here ... to confuse the reader and himself about what his true intentions are. These lines are ambiguous because the metaphors and opposition used. For instance, a literal meaning of his metaphor "let not light see my black and deep desires" would be that Macbeth wants there to be darkness so...

• Word Count: 1146
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... of the letter "h" show a degree of urgency in her tone, and are an early indication of the evil persona she is starting to adopt. The latter can be compared to a metaphor for venom, illustrating Lady Macbeth's intentions to fill Macbeth's mind with the deepest raw cruelty that she is persistent in making herself possess, through expression. Her fear of his kind ... . She metaphorically predicts the king's death as her soliloquy strengthens, "The raven himself is hoarse That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan Under my battlements". The raven is the given metaphor, which was known as a bi...

• Word Count: 1069
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... shows this by telling Lady Macbeth "I am in blood/ Step it in so far that should I wade no more/ returning were as go o'er" (Shakespeare III, 4. 45-50). In this metaphor comparing blood with guilt, Macbeth believes that it is as difficult to turn back as it is to continue. Macbeth believes he is guilty and he might as well accept ... it. This metaphor reveals to the reader on the fundamental attitude change of Macbeth. He's transformed from remorseful guilty to acceptance of guilt. Further more, blood also serve as a symbol of guilt that ... ...

• Word Count: 762
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... make, and give the reader something to ponder about while reading. The literary devices that Shakespeare uses in Macbeth affect the reader in many ways. For instance, Shakespeare use of a metaphor - (clothing imagery) "The thane of cowdor lives; Why do you dress me in these borrowed robes?" (England in Literature 1989, 197). The witches prophesize that Macbeth that he will become ... Macbeth will not have the chances to gain the positions, yet. Macbeth asks why do you give me these positions if they are already taken. The reader will identify the metaphor, analyze it, and begin to under...

• Word Count: 945
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Macbeth as loyal and ambitious. The use of soliloquy was one way that we could learn about Macbeth's character. Within the soliloquy, many rhetorical devices were sewn in. An important metaphor is used to describe where he will end up if he actually kills the king. Macbeth says, "But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we"d jump the life ... Macbeth kills the king, he will leap over death and into eternity. He will skip over the rocks in the river and go straight to the other side. Another important metaphor is used in the end of the soliloquy by relating a horse jumping over someth...

• Word Count: 751
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... this line she is telling him to appear as a flower but mimic a snake. This is used because flowers are often associated with innocence and serpents are a symbol for deceivableness. This metaphor allows readers to clearly understand what Lady Macbeth is asking from Macbeth. Another example is when Lennox, a Scottish nobleman, is conversing with Macbeth and tells him of all the most ... ...

• Word Count: 1030
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... , talks about the murders that have been committed and seems to be attempting to clean blood off her hands, saying "Out, damned spot! Out, I say!" (V.i) The blood is a metaphor for the guilt she feels. She realizes that she is responsible for the murder of King Duncan and part of McDuff's family. Her guilt ultimately leads her to commit suicide ... ...

• Word Count: 917
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... ). This horrific image of blood symbolizes the guilt of which she will never rid herself. At first she was tough but now she is afraid ("a soldier and afeard" (5.1.39)). She is terrified of the guilt that she will forever have. Lady Macbeth becomes more and more resentful of the murders as she explains that, "All the perfumes of ... ...

• Word Count: 1094
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... that he must deliberately attempt to silence his conscience in order to do this, since "words to the head of deeds too cold breath gives" (II.i.61). The metaphor of "cold breath" cooling the "heat of deeds" suggests that an awareness of consequences and limits helps to prevent a person's emotions from leading them to do ... ...

• Word Count: 663
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to his wife after he returns from slaughtering King Duncan through his hallucinations "I could not say Amen when they did say 'God bless us'." (II.II.38-39) Lady Macbeth hides her guilt till her death, which demonstrates that the immense guilt is what killed her. From the sleepwalking scene, Lady Macbeth felt terrible because of her wrong ... ...

• Word Count: 591
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... he expects himself to be named heir to the throne. When he finds out that Duncan has instead named his, "eldest, Malcolm... hereafter The Prince of Cumberland," (1.4.38-39) he is enraged. At this point Macbeth stops thinking about Duncan as a friend, and considers him simply yet another obstacle on his climb to power. Soon Macbeth realizes that in ... ...

• Word Count: 1100
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... who knows it, when none can call our power to/account?--Yet who have thought the old man/to have so much blood in him" (Act 5. Scene 1. lines 36. 39-44). When the doctor tells Macbeth about this, Macbeth commands he cure her, but he cannot because it is an illness of the mind. By the end of act 5, Lady ... ...

• Word Count: 693
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... on his horse ride with Fleance, Macbeth makes little attempt to hide his true motive, as showed when he says, "Adieu, Till you return at night" (III.i.38-39). As the audience, we know that Banquo was murdered under the cover of night based on the lines "Who did strike out the light?" (III.iii.27). Not ... ...

• Word Count: 820
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Malcolm with the slight declaration saying "we will establish our estate upon/Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter/The Prince of Cumberland" (Act I, scene iv, li 37-39). If Malcolm is set to be the new king, then Macbeth sees he clearly cannot receive the throne without his own intervention. Macbeth quickly begins his planning afterwards because Malcolm ... ...

• Word Count: 821
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... he expects himself to be named heir to the throne. When he finds out that Duncan has instead named his "eldest, Malcolm...hereafter the Prince of Cumberland" (1.4.38-39) he is enraged. At this point Macbeth stops thinking about Duncan as a friend, and considers him simply yet another obstacle on his climb to power. Soon Macbeth realizes that in ... ...

• Word Count: 1100
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... this matter as soon as possible. Lady Macbeth is telling him he must act as if nothing is out of the ordinary, but finish the deed without hesitation, using the metaphor of looking like an innocent flower, but being the serpent hiding underneath It. On another occasion Macbeth attempts to talk Lady Macbeth, and himself, out of killing Duncan, and Lady ... ...

• Word Count: 790
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , which lead into a bad ruling over the country as it stated, "our country sinks beneath the yoke, it weeps, it bleeds, and each day a gash is added to her wounds. "(4.3.39-41) all that ambition Macbeth had was his kryptonite because it gave him the big ego and ruthless attitude which was his demise. Having all that ambition could have done ... ...

• Word Count: 990
• Approx Pages: 4
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting I dare not" wait upon I would, " Like the poor cat i' the adage? (1.7.39-45) In this quote she is accusing Macbeth of being a coward and not being a man. She is calling Macbeth feminine, while she acts masculine. Janet Adelman says it perfectly in ... ...

• Word Count: 940
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... by his brain. He then thinks that something might be wrong with him to see such a thing "A dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?"" (l.38-39). In other words, he is starting to doubt himself and wonders if he is becoming crazy and if it could only be his mind tricking him and making him see ... ...

• Word Count: 1123
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... husband could (1.5.36-40). Then she tells Macbeth that she would rather bash the brains of her first born child than break a promise that could dramatically change the future (1.7.35-39). Again, this is one of lady Macbeth's insane manipulative tactics that she uses to get power and control of her husband. Last, at the end of the play she knew ... ...

• Word Count: 689
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... released, which blinded his conscious and senses. He is totally different from before, and this shows how the power of desire can destroy a human being totally. Through Shakespeare's use of metaphor, personification, imagery, and simile, one can see how he portrays the inner struggles and suffer that a murderer goes through. The turbulent behavior wavers back and forth between the boundaries of ... ...

• Word Count: 1241
• Approx Pages: 5

... Lady MacBeth come to absolute ruin, distinguishing both as tragic figures in a tragic play which ends as Macbeth cries out, "And damned be him that first cries "Hold! Enough!""(5.8, line 39) as he falls for the final time....

• Word Count: 675
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... believe in everything that they tell him. However their prophecy is what sets the play's tragic aspect in motion by luring Macbeth away from the normal cycle of generation (Brooks 39). "As long as Macbeth plans to let natural events gain him the throne, he thinks in terms of letting time run its diurnal course" (Watson 140). His desire to become ... ...

• Word Count: 887
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... . Macbeth "We will proceed no further in this business."(1.7.31) Lady Macbeth "Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour, as thou art in desire?"(1.7.39-41). This is a great example of Macbeth having doubts about the deed and wanting to stop, and then Lady Macbeth practically calling him a coward and offending his manly position. This ... ...

• Word Count: 900
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... own act and valour as thou art in desire? Wouldst thou has that which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, and live a coward in thine own esteem?" (Act 1, Scene 7, 39-41). Thus, she pressures him to commit the act for murder for her own sake and is aware of his ambition to claim the throne. Even though Macbeth knows what ... ...

• Word Count: 633
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School