Language (Macbeth)

This section explores the language used in Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Language plays a crucial role in shaping the themes, characters, and overall atmosphere of Macbeth. Shakespeare uses a range of linguistic techniques to explore the psychological depth of characters and highlight the central ideas of ambition, power, and guilt.

Imagery

Shakespeare's use of imagery in Macbeth is vivid and powerful, often invoking elements of nature, violence, and the supernatural. These images reflect the dark and chaotic world the play inhabits.

Blood: Blood imagery is central to Macbeth. It symbolises guilt and violence throughout the play. From Lady Macbeth's "Out, damned spot!" to Macbeth's vision of his "blood-boltered Banquo," blood represents the moral consequences of their actions.

Example:

Macbeth: "Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?" (Act 2, Scene 2)

This reflects Macbeth's realisation that he cannot escape the guilt of murdering Duncan.

Darkness and Light: Darkness symbolises evil and the unknown, while light represents goodness and clarity. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth often call upon darkness to hide their deeds.

Example:

Macbeth: "Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires" (Act 1, Scene 4)

Here, Macbeth asks for darkness to conceal his evil thoughts about killing Duncan.

Animal Imagery: Shakespeare frequently uses animal imagery to reflect the characters' states of mind or to foreshadow events. For example, owls, associated with death, appear around Duncan's murder, reinforcing the ominous mood.

Soliloquies

Shakespeare uses soliloquies to give insight into characters' inner thoughts and conflicts, especially Macbeth's.

Macbeth's Soliloquies: These speeches reveal Macbeth's internal struggles, ambition, and growing descent into madness. They allow the audience to see how he is tormented by his thoughts and guilt.

Example:

Macbeth's "Is this a dagger which I see before me?" soliloquy (Act 2, Scene 1) explores his hesitation and fear before murdering Duncan. The imagined dagger symbolises his guilt and ambition.

Lady Macbeth's Soliloquies: Lady Macbeth’s famous soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 5 ("Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts") shows her ambition and ruthless desire for power. By invoking dark forces, she symbolically abandons her femininity and morality to aid her husband's rise.

Rhythm and Structure

Blank Verse (Iambic Pentameter): Much of Macbeth is written in blank verse, unrhymed lines of iambic pentameter, which lends a formal, controlled structure to the dialogue. This rhythm often reflects a character’s nobility or calmness, though disruptions in the metre can signify inner turmoil.

Example:

Macbeth: "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, / Creeps in this petty pace from day to day" (Act 5, Scene 5)

This famous passage uses the regular rhythm of iambic pentameter to convey Macbeth’s despair and sense of the meaningless repetition of life.

Prose: Prose is used for less noble characters or to show a loss of control. Lady Macbeth speaks in prose during her sleepwalking scene (Act 5, Scene 1), which reflects her mental breakdown and loss of composure.

Symbolism

The Supernatural: The presence of the witches and their ambiguous language ("Fair is foul, and foul is fair") reflects the theme of deception and confusion between good and evil. The witches' cryptic language plays with paradoxes and equivocation, making their words difficult to interpret and reflective of the play’s moral ambiguity.

Banquo’s ghost and the hallucinations of the dagger both symbolise the psychological consequences of Macbeth’s actions. The supernatural elements reinforce the themes of guilt, paranoia, and the distortion of reality.

Sleep: Sleep represents innocence, peace, and a clear conscience. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth hears a voice cry, "Macbeth does murder sleep" (Act 2, Scene 2), indicating that he will no longer enjoy the restorative effects of sleep due to his guilt.

Alliteration and Repetition

Shakespeare uses alliteration and repetition to highlight key moments and ideas.

Repetition: The repetition of certain words and phrases emphasises themes and psychological states.

Example:

"Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow" (Act 5, Scene 5) Macbeth's repetition underscores his despair and growing sense of the futility of life.

Alliteration: Alliteration is often used to intensify emotional moments or draw attention to specific ideas. For instance, in Lady Macbeth’s famous speech ("Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under it"), the repetition of the "s" sound mimics the hissing of a snake, reinforcing the theme of deception.

Metaphors and Similes

Shakespeare frequently uses metaphors and similes to convey complex emotions and ideas.

Metaphors: Macbeth’s ambition is often expressed through metaphors related to growth and nature.

Example:

"I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition" (Act 1, Scene 7)

Here, ambition is metaphorically compared to a rider who overleaps himself, indicating that Macbeth knows his ambition may lead to his downfall.

Similes: Shakespeare also employs similes to create vivid imagery and comparisons.

Example:

Lady Macbeth compares Macbeth’s moment of hesitation to the innocence of a child: "Like the poor cat i' th' adage" (Act 1, Scene 7), accusing him of cowardice and urging him to act decisively.

Dramatic Irony

Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to build tension and suspense, as the audience is aware of key information that the characters are not.

Example: Duncan’s comment that Macbeth’s castle has a "pleasant seat" (Act 1, Scene 6) is ironic, as the audience knows that Duncan will be murdered there. This contrast heightens the sense of tragedy.

Equivocation

Equivocation plays a significant role in Macbeth, particularly through the witches, whose prophecies are deliberately ambiguous.

Example: The witches’ prophecy that Macbeth "shall never vanquish'd be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him" (Act 4, Scene 1) seems impossible, but later proves true when Malcolm’s soldiers use branches from Birnam Wood to disguise themselves as they march on Dunsinane.

In conclusion, Shakespeare’s Macbeth uses a rich variety of language techniques, from imagery and soliloquies to metaphors and dramatic irony, to explore themes of ambition, guilt, and the corrupting nature of power. Understanding these elements is essential for appreciating how Shakespeare conveys the psychological depth of the characters and the play's overall tragic atmosphere.