Essay about Irony in Shakespeares Macbeth - 1143 Words

Macbeth: Three Forms of Irony Macbeth, is a story of a man whose ambitions have caused him to commit treason and murder. Visions of power grew within his head until his thirst for power caused him to lose his life. It is the ironic and symbolic elements such as this that contribute to the great depth of the play and transform it from a mere play to a literary art form. Three forms of irony may be found in the play, Macbeth: Dramatic irony, being the difference between what the audience knows and what a character knows to be true; Verbal Irony, being a difference between what is said and what is meant; and Situational Irony, a difference between what happens and what is expected to happen. I will attempt to show examples of†¦show more content†¦One of my favorite examples of dramatic irony is the porter scene in Act II, iii because of the hidden truths the stuporous drunk revealed. The porter acts the part of the porter at hell-gate in line 2, Porter: If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key. He continues to dramatize through line 17, Porter: But this place is too cold for hell. Ill devil-porter it no further... After the kings murder is discovered, it is almost comedic the way Lady Macbeth responds to the announcement of King Duncans murder. First she enters in mock confusion questioning, Lady Macbeth: Whats the business, That such a hideous trumpet calls to parley The sleepers of the house? speak, speak! (II,iii,84-86) One can imagine the actor portraying Lady Macbeth embellishing her performance almost to the point at which it might be called over-acting. Then, with Macduffs reply refusing to tell her what has happened for The repetition in a womans ear Would murder as it fell, one can not help but ignore the serious tone of the scene to laugh at the irony of his choice of words. The lady then plays her innocence more by replying in alarm to Macduffs telling Banquo of the murder, Lady Macbeth: Woe, alas! What in our house? (II,iii,92) Possibly the most enjoyed form of irony in the play is verbal. For example, the exit of Macbeth at his final visit to theShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1399 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’, resonates the damnation and inevitable dissolution of man in the face of compunction, facades and vaulting ambition. Through the use of dramatic irony, symbolism and soliloquies, Shakespeare denotes the happenings of a tragic hero who ambles on the verge between moral and immoral; the inception after which humanity cascades to pieces. Ultimately through this farrago of self-seeking divinations, disdainful desires, decimating machinations and an ultimate plunge fromRead MoreEssay on Comedy vs. Tragedy876 Words   |  4 Pageswhich kept them in the Shakespearian style. Shakespeare’s more widely known comedy and tragedy, The Twelfth Night and Macbeth, respectively, are great examples to show the vast differences between the two styles , but since both works are by the same author, similarities can also be seen if one looks carefully. A dismal, almost heart-wrenching downfall and a plot of darkness and confusion is what a reader encounters in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth. The story, right from the beginning, createdRead MoreEssay on Dramatic Tension in Macbeth1644 Words   |  7 PagesDramatic Tension in Macbeth  Ã‚   Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’ is set in Scotland during the rule of king Duncan. Macbeth has fought his way up the ranks of the army to become one of Duncan’s most trusted Lords. An encounter with three witches puts wickedness into the heart of an otherwise noble and loyal Macbeth.   Shakespeare’s brilliant use of dramatic irony, the supernatural, and indecision produce a dramatic tension that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the play. Read MoreIrony in Act 1 of Macbeth Essay896 Words   |  4 PagesMacbeth Question – Discuss the irony in Act 1, Scene 4. Irony is very commonly used in literature. It is when something totally different from what was happened takes place. Irony is of three main broad types-verbal irony, dramatic irony and irony of situation. Verbal irony or sarcasm refers to the situation where the character deliberately means the opposite of what he or she is saying. Irony of situation or circumstance refers to a situation when the opposite of what is expected happensRead MoreThe Importance Of Literature In Literature1077 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare, there is a common belief among people that Shakespeare’s work does not reflect modern time and has lost its relevance. However, we continue to see literary devices that Shakespeare used in modern works today. Shakespeare employed literary tools, along with his understanding of the flaws in human nature, in a effective manner to continue to be relied upon in modern texts to keep audiences captivated. Motifs were used in Shakespeare’s time and are still used today to relay the overall themeRead MoreTragic Circumstances, Social Pressures, and Flaws in Shakespeares MacBeth957 Words   |  4 PagesThe play Macbeth by William Shakespeare uses the genre of tragedy through the inclusion of distinctive elements of tragic circumstance, social pressures and flaws within the individual’s character. Shakespeare manipulates these features of a tragedy to evoke audience interest leaving responders with insightful thoughts about human nature such as the dangers of vaulting ambition, the fragility of human morality and the temptation of deviation from the natural order. Early in the play, ShakespeareRead More Literary Devices Used In Macbeth Essay example911 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary Devices used in Macbeth Imagine how dull a Shakespearean play would be without the ingenious literary devices and techniques that contribute so much to the fulfillment of its reader or viewer. Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy that combines fact and legend to tell the story of an eleventh century king. Shakespeare uses numerous types of literary techniques to make this tragic play more appealing. Three literary devices that Shakespeare uses to make Macbeth more interesting andRead MoreMacbeth, Act II Scene II : When dealing with scene II act II from Macbeth, we can’t miss900 Words   |  4 Pages Macbeth, Act II Scene II : When dealing with scene II act II from Macbeth, we can’t miss Shakespeare’s mastery in stagecraft. This story of crime and punishment culminates here in a climax of horror and terror, which exposes to the 17th century spectator the features of the two plotters of Duncan’s murder. Thus, the audience are invited to attend the inevitable and tragic downfall of these protagonists. When the scene is about to begin, the spectator has been plunged into the horror of warRead MoreEssay on Tension in Act 2 Scene 2 of William Shakespeares Macbeth1620 Words   |  7 PagesTension in Act 2 Scene 2 of William Shakespeares Macbeth Macbeth was written in1605; this was a period where there was a great interest in witchcraft and the supernatural. Many people including James I were scared and confused by ideas of the supernatural. The opening scene would in itself create tension amongst the audience, as it would suggest a play full of evil and lies, and also a theme of opposites and contrasts which occurs in the play, Fair is foul, and foulRead MoreIrony in Macbeth1655 Words   |  7 PagesDramatic Irony is the result of information being shared with the audience but withheld from one or more of the characters. Example: In  Act 1 Scene 4, line 50  , the witches hail Macbeth,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"thane of Cawdor!† Dramatic irony: At this point, Macbeth is unaware that the king has conferred this honor upon him because of his valor in battle, so he attributes his fortune to the witches’ prophecy. However, the audience knows Duncan made the pronouncement in Act 1, Scene 3. Purpose:  This dramatic irony is to