Without an ideology of morals, anarchy would arise. There would be no order, no control, no boundary, and no sense of wrong or right. Every day, humanity overtly battles towards maintaining a balance between good and evil. Even so, depriving a once judicious person of morals leads to corollary acts of betrayal, greed, and eventually, guilt. Similarly, the lugubrious loss of morals reflects itself in The Tragedy of Macbeth by the playwright, William Shakespeare. In the novel, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, who were once protagonists but are now branded with ignominy, allowed their sinister personas to consume them. By accentuating Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony, fatalistic allusions, and symbolic diction, he elucidates the destructive corruption of human nature.
Beginning with King Duncan’s tentative placement in trust, Shakespeare employs irony to reveal the deception of loyalty. In the very first act of Macbeth, King Duncan lugubriously confides to Malcolm on how the previous Thane of Cawdor “was a gentleman on whom I built/An absolute trust” (1.4.15-16). Before the Thane of Cawdor’s treachery, King Duncan had fully believed and placed his faith into the Thane of Cawdor, After witnessing the Thane of Cawdor’s treason, however, Duncan expresses his hurt and disappointment on how he can no longer trust a man based on their face (1.4.14). Because Duncan lacks the ability to see the heinous side of people, “Duncan’s goodness [made] its own undoing” (Tufts 175). His innocence hinders him from “recognizing . . . paradoxically, ‘what is not’” (Tufts 175). By highlighting Duncan’s trusting nature, he depicts how people mask their true intentions. When Macbeth enters the room, Duncan calls Macbeth his “O worthiest cousin” (Shakespeare. Act 1. Scene 4. Line 17). The irony pertains towards what Duncan has just called Macbeth, considering Macbeth will be the one that kills him later on. Once again, Shakespeare emphasizes how people are too trusting and are often deceived. Furthermore, Shakespeare’s utilization of irony exposes how overconfidence is humanity’s fatal flaw. …show more content…
After Macbeth has secured the crown from Duncan, the witches assure him how he “shall never vanquished be until/Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/ Shall come against him (Shakespeare 4.1.105-107). Macbeth gains courage once he hears the prophecy because he knows he cannot be defeated. Since he has killed Duncan, since he has killed Banquo, he thinks he is invincible, and even [‘unfixes’] his hair and [makes] his heart pound against his ribs ‘against the use of nature’” (Bernad 50). He is certain the Wood would never move; however, instead of predicting Macbeth’s success, the Witches actually foretold Macbeth his downfall. The irony was within Macbeth’s pride. Shakespeare remarks how man’s greatest weakness lies in his own impudence. People only hear what they want and forget to accept reality. By criticizing society’s excessive ego, Shakespeare rebukes how people do not see and think clearly. Eventually, Macbeth’s ignorance contributes to his death “For it hath cowed [his] better part of man” (Shakespeare 5.8.22). In addition to Shakespeare’s use of irony, he includes allusions through Macbeth’s reign to show the sordid contemplations humans fight introspectively when given the chance at power. As Macbeth contemplates whether to deleteriously murder Duncan, he admits to himself how such an act "Will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against/The deep damnation of his taking off" (1.7.19-20). By mentioning the angels blowing their trumpets in heaven, Macbeth alludes towards the Revelation 8:10. The Revelation 8:10 was when the “third of seven angels delegated to exact God’s terrible vengeance sounds [with] his trumpet” (Hagan 37). Macbeth knows that if he kills Duncan, it would very much be like he was announcing his own form of revenge. Shakespeare refers to the Revelation to show how Macbeth ruminates over killing Duncan, remarking to how an act of such would be looked down upon by the trumpeted angels and heaven. By spawning the biblical reference to Macbeth’s contemplation, Shakespeare denounces treachery against a king, depicting it as immoral. Additionally, Shakespeare expounds how the thought of power can drive a person towards committing an immoral deed. Likewise, his allusions through the character Macbeth laconically illustrates the duplicity humans possess. When Macduff and Malcolm are discussing about Macduff’s nature, Malcolm mentions how “Angels are bright still, though
Beginning with King Duncan’s tentative placement in trust, Shakespeare employs irony to reveal the deception of loyalty. In the very first act of Macbeth, King Duncan lugubriously confides to Malcolm on how the previous Thane of Cawdor “was a gentleman on whom I built/An absolute trust” (1.4.15-16). Before the Thane of Cawdor’s treachery, King Duncan had fully believed and placed his faith into the Thane of Cawdor, After witnessing the Thane of Cawdor’s treason, however, Duncan expresses his hurt and disappointment on how he can no longer trust a man based on their face (1.4.14). Because Duncan lacks the ability to see the heinous side of people, “Duncan’s goodness [made] its own undoing” (Tufts 175). His innocence hinders him from “recognizing . . . paradoxically, ‘what is not’” (Tufts 175). By highlighting Duncan’s trusting nature, he depicts how people mask their true intentions. When Macbeth enters the room, Duncan calls Macbeth his “O worthiest cousin” (Shakespeare. Act 1. Scene 4. Line 17). The irony pertains towards what Duncan has just called Macbeth, considering Macbeth will be the one that kills him later on. Once again, Shakespeare emphasizes how people are too trusting and are often deceived. Furthermore, Shakespeare’s utilization of irony exposes how overconfidence is humanity’s fatal flaw. …show more content…
After Macbeth has secured the crown from Duncan, the witches assure him how he “shall never vanquished be until/Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/ Shall come against him (Shakespeare 4.1.105-107). Macbeth gains courage once he hears the prophecy because he knows he cannot be defeated. Since he has killed Duncan, since he has killed Banquo, he thinks he is invincible, and even [‘unfixes’] his hair and [makes] his heart pound against his ribs ‘against the use of nature’” (Bernad 50). He is certain the Wood would never move; however, instead of predicting Macbeth’s success, the Witches actually foretold Macbeth his downfall. The irony was within Macbeth’s pride. Shakespeare remarks how man’s greatest weakness lies in his own impudence. People only hear what they want and forget to accept reality. By criticizing society’s excessive ego, Shakespeare rebukes how people do not see and think clearly. Eventually, Macbeth’s ignorance contributes to his death “For it hath cowed [his] better part of man” (Shakespeare 5.8.22). In addition to Shakespeare’s use of irony, he includes allusions through Macbeth’s reign to show the sordid contemplations humans fight introspectively when given the chance at power. As Macbeth contemplates whether to deleteriously murder Duncan, he admits to himself how such an act "Will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against/The deep damnation of his taking off" (1.7.19-20). By mentioning the angels blowing their trumpets in heaven, Macbeth alludes towards the Revelation 8:10. The Revelation 8:10 was when the “third of seven angels delegated to exact God’s terrible vengeance sounds [with] his trumpet” (Hagan 37). Macbeth knows that if he kills Duncan, it would very much be like he was announcing his own form of revenge. Shakespeare refers to the Revelation to show how Macbeth ruminates over killing Duncan, remarking to how an act of such would be looked down upon by the trumpeted angels and heaven. By spawning the biblical reference to Macbeth’s contemplation, Shakespeare denounces treachery against a king, depicting it as immoral. Additionally, Shakespeare expounds how the thought of power can drive a person towards committing an immoral deed. Likewise, his allusions through the character Macbeth laconically illustrates the duplicity humans possess. When Macduff and Malcolm are discussing about Macduff’s nature, Malcolm mentions how “Angels are bright still, though